Created by T.

Madas

2D VECTORS

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the point A has coordinates ( 2, −3) .


The point B is such so that AB = 3i − 7 j , where i and j are mutually perpendicular unit
vectors lying on the same plane.

Determine the distance of B from O .

MP1-L , OB = 5 5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (**+)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the point A has coordinates ( −2,4 ) .


The point B is such so that BA = 5i − j , where i and j are mutually perpendicular unit
vectors lying on the same plane.

a) Determine the distance of B from O .

b) Calculate the angle OAB .

MP1-J , OB = 74 , OAB ≈ 128°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (***)
The points A , B and C lie on a plane so that





AB = 2i + 7 j and AC = 4i − 5 j ,

where i and j are mutually perpendicular unit vectors lying on the same plane.

The point D lies on the straight line segment BC , so that BD : DC = 1: 2 .


a) Determine a simplified expression, in terms of i and j , for BD .


b) Show that the AD is approximately 4 units.


MP1-M , BD = 2 i − 4 j
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (***)
The following information is given for four points which lie on the same plane.









OA = i + 4 j , OB = 5i + 5 j and CB = −i + 6 j ,


a) Find the vector AB and hence state its length


b) Determine the length of AC .

c) Calculate the size of the angle ABC .









MP1-K , AB = 4i + j , AB = 17 , AC = 50 , ABC ≈ 85.4°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***)

A
O
D
B

The figure above shows a trapezium OABC , where O is a fixed origin.

The position vectors of A and C are 12i + 4 j and 18i − 21j , respectively.





CB is parallel to OA , so that CB = 2 OA .

The point D lies on AC so that AD : DC = 1: 2 .

a) Find a simplified expression, in terms of i and j , for the position vector of D .

b) Show that that O , D and B are collinear and state the ratio of OD : DB .


MP1-E , OD = 14i − 13 j , OD : DB = 1: 2
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***)
 −5   11 
   
The points A and B have position vectors  −2  and  6  , respectively.
 8  20 
   
The point M lies on AB so that AM : MB = 3 : 1

10 
 
The point P has position vector  8  .
19 
 
Determine the position vector of the point Q , if M is the midpoint of PQ .

4
 
SYN-R , q =  0 
15 
 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***+)

B not drawn to scale

D

O A

The figure above shows a trapezium OBCA where OB is parallel to AC .

The point D lies on BA so that BD : DA = 1: 2 .











It is further given that OA = 7i − 4 j , OB = 3i + 2 j and AC = 2 OB , where i and j are
mutually perpendicular unit vectors lying on the same plane.

a) Determine simplified expressions, in terms of i and j , for each of the vectors











OC , AB , AD and OD .

b) Deduce, showing your reasoning, that O , D and C are collinear and state the
ratio of OC : OD .

c) Show that OBA = 90° and hence find the area of the trapezium OBCA .

d) State the size of the angle ABC .












MP1-N , OC = 13i , AB = −4i + 6 j , AD = − 8 i + 4 j , OD = 13 i , OC : OD = 3 :1 ,
3 3
area = 39 , ABC = 45°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***+)

4i + kj
A D

i − 10 j
5i + j

B C

The figure above shows a trapezium ABCD , where AD is parallel to BC .

The following information is given for this trapezium.









BD = 5i + j , DC = i − 10 j and AD = 4i + kj ,

where k is an integer.

a) Use vector algebra to show that k = −6 .


b) Find the length of AB .

c) Calculate the size of the angle ABD .


MP1-P , AB = 50 = 5 2 , ABD ≈ 70.6°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***+)
B
P

O Q

The figure above shows a triangle OAB , where O is a fixed origin.

• The point A has coordinates ( 6, −8 ) .

• The point P , whose coordinates are ( 4,1) , lies on OB so that OP : PB = 4 :1 .

• The point Q lies on AB so that AQ : QB = 3 : 2

• The side OA is extended to the point R so that OA : AR = 5 : 3 .

a) Use vector methods to determine the coordinates of Q .





b) Determine expressions, in terms of i and j , for the vectors PQ and QR .

c) Deduce, showing your reasoning, that P , Q and R are collinear and state
the ratio of PQ : QR .





( 20 )
MP1-R , Q 27 , − 49 , PQ = 7 i − 69 j , QR = 21 i − 207 j , PQ : QR = 1: 3
5 5 20 5 20

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***+)
The points A , B and P lie on the x-y plane, where the point O is the origin.

It is further given that

OA = 4 , OB = 6 and AOB = 40° .









( ) ( )
If OP = 2 OA − 3 OB determine the distance of P from the origin and the angle







between OP and OA .

MP1-Z , OP ≈ 12.94 , ≈ 117°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (****)
The points A ( −1, 4 ) , B ( 2,3) and C ( 8,1) lie on the x-y plane, where O is the origin.

a) Show that A , B and C are collinear.





The point D lies on BC so that BD : BC = 2 : 3 .

b) Find the coordinates of D .





The straight line OB is extended to the point P , so that AP is parallel to OC .

c) Determine the coordinates of P .

( )
MP1-U , D 6, 5 , P 3, 9
3 2 ( )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (****+)
Relative to a fixed origin O on a horizontal plane, the points A and B have respective
position vectors 3i − 2 j and 5i + 4 j .





The point C lies on the same plane as A and B so that AB : BC = 2 : 5 .

a) Find the position vector of C .

The point D lies on the same plane as A and B so that A , B and D are collinear.

b) Given that BD = 6 10 , determine the possible position vectors of D .

MP1-O , c = 10i + 19 j , d = −i − 14 j ∪ d = 11i + 22 j

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (****+)
The four vertices of a quadrilateral ABCD lie on the same plane.

The points M and N are the midpoints of AB and CD , respectively.

Determine the possible values of the scalar constant λ , given further that









( λ 2 − 6λ + 10) MN = AD + BC .

MP1-W , λ = 2 ∪ λ =4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (****+)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the points A and B have position vectors 3i − 9 j and
2i + 10 j , respectively.





The point M is the midpoint of OB and the point N lies on OA so that OA = 3 ON .

The point P is the point of intersection of AM and BN .





Determine the ratio NP : PB .





SYN-Q , NP : PB = 2 : 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (*****)
A triangle OAB is given.

The point M is the midpoint of OA .

The point N lies on OB so that ON : NB = 1 : 5

If the point P is the intersection of the straight lines AN and BM , use vector algebra
to find the ratio of AP : EP .

SYN-S , AP : PN = 6 : 5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (*****)
The triangle ABC is given.












The points D and E are such so that AD = λ BC and BE = µ AC , where λ and µ are
positive scalar constants.

Given further that λµ = 1 , show that D , C and E are collinear.

SPX-I , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (*****)
It is given that







 

AP + 4 BP + 3 PC = 0 .

Show that









AP = 1  AB − 3 BC  .
2

SYN-J , proof

Question 18 (*****)

(
2 )
a = 1 x2 + y2 + 3 i + 4 j and b = ( x + y ) i + 2j .

Determine the value of x and the value of y given that a and b are parallel.

SYN-H , x = 2, y = 1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Introducing
Elementary
3D Vectors

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the points A , B and C have respective position vectors

−3i + k , −i + 4 j + k and 5i + 4 j .

Calculate the size of the angle ABC and hence find the area of the triangle ABC .

MP2-N , ABC ≈ 116° , area ≈ 12.2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (**)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the point A has coordinates ( 2,1, −3) .


The point B is such so that AB = 3i − j + 5k .

Determine the distance of B from O .

MP2-A , OB = 29

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (**)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the point A has coordinates ( 6, −4,1) .


The point B is such so that BA = i − j + 3k .


If the point M is the midpoint of OB , show that AM = k 10 , where k is a rational
constant to be found.

MP2-D , k = 3
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (**+)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the point A has coordinates ( 2,5,4 ) .

The points B , C and D are such so that









BA = i + 2 j + 3k , BC = 7i + j − k and DC = 4i + 2k .

Determine the distance of D from the origin.

MP2-Q , OD = 6

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (**+)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the points A , B and C have respective position vectors
2i + 3 j − k , 5i − 3 j + 4k and 7 j − 4k .

a) Given that ABCD is a parallelogram, determine the position vector of D .

b) Determine the distance AC and hence calculate the angle ABC .

SYN-A , d = −3i + 13 j − 9k , AC = 29 , ABC ≈ 1.11°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the point A has coordinates ( k ,3,5) , where k is a scalar
constant.





The points B and C are such so that BA = 3i − 2 j and BC = 2i + cj − 4k , where c is a
scalar constant.

If the coordinates of C are (1,4k ,1) , determine the distance BC .

MP2-R , BC = 29

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***)
The points A ( 4, 4,1) , B ( 2, −2, 0 ) and C ( 6,3,7 ) are referred relative to a fixed origin O .

If A , B , C and the point D form the parallelogram ABCD , use vector algebra to find
the coordinates of D and hence calculate the angle OCD .

MP2-I , D ( 8,9,8 ) , OCD ≈ 126.6°

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***)
OABC is a square, where O is the origin, and the vertices A and C have respective
position vectors 2i + 4 j + 4k and 4i + 2 j − 4k .

The point M is the midpoint of AB and the point N is the midpoint of MC .





The point D is such so that AD = 3 AB .
2

a) Find the position vectors of the points B , D and N .

b) Deduce, showing your reasoning, that O , N and D are collinear.









MP2-P , OB = 6i + 6 j , OD = 8i + 7 j − 2k , ON = 4i + 7 j − k
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***)
The points A ( −2, −10, −17 ) and B ( 25, −1,19 ) are referred relative to a fixed origin O .

The point C is such so that ACB forms a straight line.


AC 2
Given further that


 = , determine the coordinates of C .
CB 7

MP2-H , C ( 4, −8, −9 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***)
The points A ( −3, −14, −5) and B (1, −4, −1) are referred relative to a fixed origin O .

The point C is such so that ABC forms a straight line.


AB 2
Given further that


 = , determine the coordinates of C .
BC 5

MP2-K , C (11, 21,9 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (***)
The variable points A ( 2t , t , 2 ) and B ( t , 4,1) , where t is a scalar variable, are referred
relative to a fixed origin O .

a) Show that


AB = 2t 2 − 8t + 17 .

b) Hence find the shortest distance between A and B , as t varies.


MP2-C , AB =3
min

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (***)
The points A ( 5, −1, 0 ) , B ( 3,5, −4 ) , C (12, 2,8) are referred relative to a fixed origin O .





The point D is such so that AD = 2 BC .

Determine the distance CD .

MP2-F , CD = 458 ≈ 21.40

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 13 (***)
The points A ( t ,3, 2 ) and B ( 5, 2, 2t ) , where t is a scalar constant, are referred relative to
a fixed origin O .


Given that AB = 21 , find the possible values of t .

MP2-E , t = 3, t = 3
5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (***+)
The variable points A (1,8, t − 1) and B ( 2t − 1, 4,3t − 1) , where t is a scalar variable, are
referred relative to a fixed origin O .

Find the shortest distance between A and B , as t varies.


MP2-G , AB = 18
min

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 15 (***+)
The points A (1,1, 2 ) , B ( 2,1,5) , C ( 4, 0,1) and D form the parallelogram ABCD , where
the above coordinates are measured relative to a fixed origin.

a) Find the coordinates of D .

The points E , B and D are collinear, so that B is the midpoint of ED .

b) Determine the coordinates of E .

The point F is such so that ABEF is also a parallelogram.

c) Find the coordinates of F .

d) Show that B is the midpoint of FC .

e) Prove that ADBF is another parallelogram.

MP2-B , D ( 3, 0, −2 ) , E (1, 2,12 ) , F ( 0, 2,9 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (***+)
With respect to a fixed origin, the points A and B have position vectors 2i + 4 j + 7k
and −4i + j + k , respectively.

The point P lies on the straight line through A and B .





Find the possible position vectors of P if AP = 2 PB .





MP2-L , OP = p = −2i + 2 j + 3k , OP = p = −10i − 2 j − 5k

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (***+)
The points A ( −3,3, a ) , B ( b, b, b − 5) and C ( c, −2,5) , where a , b and c are scalar
constants, are referred relative to a fixed origin O .





Ii is further given that A , B and C are collinear and the ratio AB : BC = 2 : 3 .

Use vector algebra to find the value of a , the value of b and the value of c .

MP2-J , [ a, b, c ] = [ −10,1, 7 ]

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (***+)
The points A ( 7, 4,3) , B and C (1, 2, −1) form the parallelogram OABC , where the
above coordinates are measured relative to a fixed origin O .

a) Find the coordinates of B .


The side OC is extended in the OC direction to a point D .

The point M is the midpoint of AC .









b) Given further that MD = i + 7 j − 6k , determine OC : CD .





SYN-K , B ( 8,6, 2 ) , OC : CD = 1 : 4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 19 (***+)

E
D C

B
O

The figure above shows the triangle OAB , where O is the origin and the position
vectors of A and B relative to O , are −6i + 27 j − 9k and 4i + 6 j − 6k , respectively.

The point E is such so that O , B and E are collinear with OB : BE = 1: 2

The point C is such so that O , C and A are collinear with OC : CA = 1: 2

The point D is such so that B , D and A are collinear with BD : DA = 1: 3

a) Determine the coordinates of C , D and E , relative to O .

b) Show that the points C , D and E are collinear, and find the ratio CD : DE .

c) Show further that BC is parallel to EA , and find the ratio BC : EA .

( )
MP2-V , C ( −2,9, −3) , D 3 , 45 , − 27 , E (12,18, −18 ) , CD : DE = 1: 3 ,
2 4 4
BC : EA = 1: 3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (***+)
The points A ( x1 , y1, z1 ) and B ( x2 , y2 , z2 ) are referred relative to a fixed origin O .





If the point P is such so that AP : PB = λ : µ , use vector algebra to show that

 ( µ x1 + λ x2 ) i + ( µ y1 + λ y2 ) j + ( µ z1 + λ z2 ) k
OP = .
λ+µ

MP2-W , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (***+)
Relative to a fixed origin, the coordinates of three points A (1,1,1) , B ( 4, −1,3) and
C ( 2,5, −1) , are given.









Find the position vector of the point P if 4 PA + 3 PB = 5 PC .

SYN-I , p = 2i − 8 j + 6k

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (****)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the positions vectors of the points A , B and C are
defined below.









OA = i + j + 4k , OB = 2i − 2 j + 4k , OC = 4i + 12k .





If OD = 1 OC prove that the point D lies on the straight line AB .
3

MP2-U , proof

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (****)
Relative to a fixed origin O , the position vectors of three points A , B and C are









OA = i − 2k , AB = 2i + 10 j + 2k and BC = 6i − 12 j .





a) Show that AC is perpendicular to AB .

b) Show further that the area of the triangle ABC is 18 6 .

c) Hence, or otherwise, determine the shortest distance of A from the straight line
through B and C .

SYN-M , distance = 6 30
5

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (****)
The points A ( 2, −1, 4 ) , B ( 0, −5,10 ) , C ( 3,1,3) and D ( 6,7, −8) are referred relative to a
fixed origin O .

a) Use vector algebra to show that three of the above four points are collinear.

A triangle is drawn using three of the above four points as its vertices.

b) Given further that the triangle has the largest possible area, determine, in exact
surd form, the length of its shortest side.

SYN-B , 94

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 125 (****)

Relative to a fixed origin, the points P and Q have position vectors 9 j − 2k and
7i − 8 j + 11k , respectively.

a) Determine the distance between the points P and Q .

b) Find the position vector of the point M , where M is the midpoint of PQ .

The points P and Q are vertices of a cube, so that PQ is one of the longest diagonals
of the cube.

c) Show that the length of one of the sides of the cube is 13 units.

d) Calculate the distance of the point M from the origin O .

e) Show that the origin O lies inside the cube.


SYN-N , PQ = 507 , OM = 72 i + 12 j + 92 k , OM = 12 131

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 26 (****+)
The points A ( 3, 2,14 ) , B ( 0,1,13) and C ( 5,6,8) are defined with respect to a fixed
origin O .


The straight line L passes through A and it is parallel to the vector BC .

The point D lies on L so that ABCD is a parallelogram.

a) Find the coordinates of D .

b) If instead ABCD is an isosceles trapezium and the point D still lies on L ,

determine the new coordinates of D .

MP2-Y , D ( 8,7,9 ) , D ( 6,5,11)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 27 (*****)
With respect to a fixed origin, the points A and B have position vectors 10i + 9 j − 6k
and 6i − 3 j + 10k , respectively.

The position vector of the point C has i component equal to 2 .

The distance of C from both A and B is 12 units.

Show that one of the two possible position vectors of C is 2i + 5 j + 2k and determine
the other.

MP2-T , c = 2i + 61 j + 2 k
25 25

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (*****)
The vertices of the triangle OAB have coordinates A ( 6, −18, −6 ) , B ( 7, −1,3) , where O
is a fixed origin.

The point N lies on OA so that ON : NA = 1 : 2 .

The point M is the midpoint of OB .

The point P is the intersection of AM and BN .

By using vector methods, or otherwise, determine the coordinates of P .

MP2-S , P ( 4, −4,0 )

Created by T. Madas