University Of Johannesburg
Applied Mathematics 1A1E
Module Code: APM1EB1 || Year: 2025
Tutorial 2
Unless otherwise specified, do not use rounded values for calculations and
present final answers accurate to three decimal digits (where needed - drop
trailing zeroes), if the answer cannot be expressed as a fraction or a surd.
Notice that the SI unit of metres is abbreviated as m
1. Construct a right-handed R3 reference system with axes X, Y and Z and
then draw a box in the reference system to indicate the position of the
−−→
point P = (1, 3, −2) ∈ R3 and, finally, draw OP .
2. Consider a right-handed R3 reference system with co-ordinate axes X, Y
and Z. Let P = (x, y, z) ∈ R3 be any point distinct from O = (0, 0, 0) ∈
−−→
R3 , the origin, let →
−a := OP , let aX be the X-component of → −
a , let aY be
→
− →
−
the Y -component of a , let aZ be the Z-component of a , let a = OP be
the length of →−a , let α, β and γ be the X-direction, Y -direction and Z-
direction angles of →−a , respectively (that is, the smallest angle between the
positive co-ordinate axis and → −
a ), and let ℓ, m and n be the X-direction,
Y -direction and Z-direction cosines of → −a , respectively. Show that the
1
following equations hold:
q
a = a2X + a2Y + a2Z , (1)
aX
ℓ = cos α = , (2)
a
aY
m = cos β = , (3)
a
aZ
n = cos γ = and (4)
a
ℓ2 + m2 + n2 =1. (5)
Furthermore, show that α, β, γ ∈ [0◦ , 180◦ ].
3. Given the points P = (3, −2, 1) ∈ R3 and Q = (−1, 1, 1) ∈ R3 , solve the
following problems.
(a) Determine the distance from P to Q.
−−→
(b) Determine the x, y and z-direction cosines of P Q.
−−→
(c) Determine the x, y and z-direction angles of P Q.
4. A helicopter flies 100 m vertically upwards, then 700 m South and then
300 m East. Determine how far the helicopter is from its starting point.
5. Consider a cubic room with side length 4 m. Let A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, L, J ∈
R3 be points such that ABCD is the floor of the room, EF GH is the roof
of the room, where E, F, G and H lies vertically above A, B, C and D,
respectively, where L is the centre of the ceiling of the room and J is the
centre of the floor of the room.
(a) Construct an X, Y, Z reference system so that the positive X, Y and
−−→ −−→ −→
Z axes coincide with the forward directions of AB, AD and AE,
respectively.
−→ −−→ −−→ −−→ −→ −−→ −−→ −→
(b) Let S := {LD, JH, DF , HF , AE, CB, CD, AG}. For each directed
line segment →−
a ∈ S, answer the following.
1. Calculate the length of each →
−a ∈ S.
2. Calculate the direction cosines of each →−
a ∈ S with respect to
the reference system.
3. Calculate the direction angles of each →
−
a ∈ S with respect to the
reference system.