SOLUTION TO ASSIGNMENT 4 COMPILED BY

PROF Z. I. ALI

1. Feedback and Solution to Assignment 4

As students, you need to solve the questions in the Assignment 4 step by step and understand
the techniques used in every given solution. Note that you can also use different methods.

NB! We only marked Question 1 - Question 5

Question 1
(1.1) Let ⃗n = ⟨x, y, z⟩ be orthogonal to ⃗u = ⟨1, 1, −2⟩, ⃗v = ⟨−1, 2, 0⟩, and w
⃗ =< −1, 0, 1 >.
This can be interpreted as follows using the dot-product notion and concepts:
⃗n · ⃗u = 0 =⇒ x + y − 2z = 0 (1.1)
⃗n · ⃗v = 0 =⇒ −x + 2y = 0 (1.2)
⃗n · w
⃗ = 0 =⇒ −x + z = 0 (1.3)

From equation (1.2) −x + 2y = 0, we simply solve it to infer that y = x2 .

And then from (1.3) we have that −x + z = 0 which implies that z = x.
Substituting this into x + y − 2z = 0:
x 1
x+ − 2x = 0 ⇒ − x = 0 ⇒ x = 0 (not allowed since x < 0)
2 2

Instead, we rather set x = −k for k > 0 from which we infer that

k
y=− , z = −k
2
which gives us the vector:
k 1
⃗n = ⟨−k, − , −k >= k < 1, , 1⟩.
2 2

Now, choosing k = 2 (since x < 0):

⃗n = ⟨−2, −1, −2⟩.
However, with this choice of k and x, we obtain a solution which does not satisfy the
original dot product, please verify. Therefore, the only solutions is
x = 0, y = 0, z = 0.

Thus there is no solution with x < 0 and indeed there is no vector ⃗n to satisfy the
assumptions. Hence no solution.

Date: September 10, 2024.

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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
(1.2) To obtain the vector that is orthogonal to both vectors ⃗u and ⃗v , we compute the cross
product of the given two vectors:
î ĵ k̂
⃗u × ⃗v = 0 −1 −1 = î(1) − ĵ(1) + k̂(1) = ⟨1, −1, 1⟩.
1 0 −1

To find the unit vector, we first find the magnitude (norm):

p √
||⟨1, −1, 1⟩|| = 12 + (−1)2 + 12 = 3.
Thus, we can now use the formula for the unit vector to obtain:
 
1 1 1 1
√ ⟨1, −1, 1⟩ = √ , − √ , √ .
3 3 3 3

Question 2
⃗ × (V⃗ × W
(2.1) We use the formula to compute the vectors U ⃗ ) and (U
⃗ ×W
⃗ ) × V⃗ .

We first start by computing V⃗ × W

⃗ to get:

î ĵ k̂
V⃗ × W
⃗ = −3 2 −1 = î(10 + 3) − ĵ(−15 + 1) + k̂(−9 − 2) = ⟨13, 14, −11⟩.
1 3 5

⃗ × ⟨13, 14, −11⟩ to get:

Now, we compute U
î ĵ k̂
⃗ ×(V⃗ ×W
U ⃗ )= −2 1 −1 = î(1·(−11)−(−1)·14)−ĵ(−2·(−11)−(−1)·13)+k̂(−2·14−1·13)
13 14 −11

= î(−11 + 14) − ĵ(22 − 13) + k̂(−28 − 13) = ⟨3, −9, −41⟩.

⃗ ×W
Next, we compute U ⃗:

î ĵ k̂
⃗ ×W
U ⃗ = −2 1 −1 = ⟨8, 9, −7⟩
1 3 5

⃗ ×W
Now, we also compute (U ⃗ ) × V⃗ = ⟨8, 9, −7⟩ × ⟨−3, 2, −1⟩:

î ĵ k̂
⟨8, 9, −7⟩ × ⟨−3, 2, −1⟩ = 8 9 −7 = ⟨5, 29, 43⟩.
−3 2 −11

(2.2) Not Marked

To express (⃗u × ⃗v ) · w
⃗ as a determinant, we start recalling the vectors:

⃗u = ⟨u1 , u2 , u3 ⟩, ⃗v = ⟨v1 , v2 , v3 ⟩, ⃗ = ⟨w1 , w2 , w3 ⟩.

w

The cross product ⃗u × ⃗v can be computed using the determinant of a matrix formed by
the unit vectors and the components of ⃗u and ⃗v :
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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024

î ĵ k̂
⃗u × ⃗v = u1 u2 u3 = (u2 v3 − u3 v2 , u3 v1 − u1 v3 , u1 v2 − u2 v1 ) .
v1 v2 v3

Now, to find the dot product (⃗u × ⃗v ) · w,

⃗ we have:

(⃗u × ⃗v ) · w
⃗ = (u2 v3 − u3 v2 )w1 + (u3 v1 − u1 v3 )w2 + (u1 v2 − u2 v1 )w3 .

This can also be expressed as a single determinant:

î ĵ k̂
u1 u2 u3
(⃗u × ⃗v ) · w
⃗= .
v1 v2 v3
w1 w2 w3

This determinant represents the scalar triple product, which gives the volume of the
parallelepiped formed by the three vectors ⃗u, ⃗v , and w.
⃗ Thus, we can express:

u1 u2 u3
(⃗u × ⃗v ) · w
⃗= v1 v2 v3 .
w1 w2 w3

(2.3) Not marked.

(2.4) To find the side lengths and angles of the triangle formed by the tips of the vectors
⃗u = ⟨−2, 1, −1⟩, ⃗v = ⟨−3, 2, −1⟩, and w
⃗ = ⟨1, 3, 5⟩, we will first calculate the lengths of
the sides of the triangle defined by these vectors.
We can calculate the side lengths as follows:

Assuming the points A, B, C are the tips of the vector, ⃗u, ⃗v and w, ⃗ respectively.
To find the angles between the vectors ⃗u = ⟨−2, 1, −1⟩, ⃗v = ⟨−3, 2, −1⟩, and w
⃗ = ⟨1, 3, 5⟩
using the formula

⃗a · ⃗b = ||⃗a|| ||⃗b|| cos θ,

we will calculate each angle step by step.

First, we calculate the magnitudes of the vectors

p √ √
||⃗u|| = (−2)2 + 12 + (−1)2 = 4 + 1 + 1 = 6.
similarly,
p √ √
||⃗v || = (−3)2 + 22 + (−1)2 = 9 + 4 + 1 = 14.

Then √ √ √
||w||
⃗ = 12 + 32 + 52 = 1 + 9 + 25 = 35.

We can now compute the dot products

⃗u · ⃗v = (−2)(−3) + (1)(2) + (−1)(−1) = 6 + 2 + 1 = 9.
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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
Similarly, we have
⃗u · w
⃗ = (−2)(1) + (1)(3) + (−1)(5) = −2 + 3 − 5 = −4.
Then we also obtain
⃗v · w
⃗ = (−3)(1) + (2)(3) + (−1)(5) = −3 + 6 − 5 = −2.

We can now compute the angles.

Using the dot product and magnitudes, we can find the angles.

We compute the angle θuv between ⃗u and ⃗v to get

⃗u · ⃗v 9 9 9
cos θuv = =√ √ =√ = √ .
||⃗u|| ||⃗v || 6 · 14 84 2 21
 
9
θuv = cos−1 √ .
2 21
We also compute the angle θuw between ⃗u and w ⃗ to obtain
⃗u · w
⃗ −4 −4
cos θuw = =√ √ =√ .
||⃗u|| ||w||
⃗ 6 · 35 210
 
−1 −4
θuw = cos √ .
210
Similarly, we also compute the angle θvw between ⃗v and w: ⃗
⃗v · w
⃗ −2 −2
cos θvw = =√ √ =√ .
||⃗v || ||w||
⃗ 14 · 35 490
 
−1 −2
θvw = cos √ .
490

Remark: Despite that these expressions can be calculated numerically, we rather focus
on obtaining the complete analytical solution to the given question. Note that in this
module, Calculators are not allowed so we leave our answers in a simplified form.
(2.5) To find the area of the parallelogram formed by the vectors ⃗u = ⟨−2, 1, −1⟩ and w
⃗ =
⟨1, 3, 5⟩, we can use the formula:
Area = ||⃗u × w||
⃗

This formula requires us to first calculate the cross product ⃗u × w

⃗
î ĵ k̂
1 −1 −2 −1 −2 1
⃗u × w
⃗ = −2 1 −1 = î − ĵ + k̂ .
3 5 1 5 1 3
1 3 5

1 −1 −2 −1
Since = (1)(5) − (−1)(3) = 5 + 3 = 8, and = (−2)(5) − (−1)(1) =
3 5 1 5
−2 1
−10 + 1 = −9 and = (−2)(3) − (1)(1) = −6 − 1 = −7
1 3
we obtain
⃗u × w
⃗ = î(8) − ĵ(−9) + k̂(−7) = ⟨8, 9, −7⟩
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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
Now, we find the magnitude of ⃗u × w:
⃗
p √ √
⃗ = 82 + 92 + (−7)2 = 64 + 81 + 49 = 194
||⃗u × w||

from which we thus calculate the area of the parallelogram:

√
Area = ||⃗u × w||
⃗ = 194
√
So, the area of the parallelogram formed by the vectors ⃗u and w
⃗ is 194 units2 .
(2.6) To find the volume of the parallelepiped determined by the vectors ⃗u = ⟨−2, 1, −1⟩,
⃗v = ⟨−3, 2, −1⟩, and w
⃗ = ⟨1, 3, 5⟩, we can use the the formula given by scalar triple
product:
Volume = |⃗u · (⃗v × w)|
⃗

We will first compute the cross product ⃗v × w

⃗ using the determinant formula:
î ĵ k̂
⃗v × w
⃗ = −3 2 −1
1 3 5

Calculating the determinant:

2 −1 −3 −1 −3 2
⃗v × w
⃗ = î − ĵ + k̂
3 5 1 5 1 3

Calculating each of these 2x2 determinants:

2 −1 −3 −1
1. = (2)(5) − (−1)(3) = 10 + 3 = 13 2. = (−3)(5) − (−1)(1) =
3 5 1 5
−3 2
−15 + 1 = −14 3. = (−3)(3) − (2)(1) = −9 − 2 = −11
1 3
Putting it all together:

⃗v × w
⃗ = î(13) − ĵ(−14) + k̂(−11) = ⟨13, 14, −11⟩

Calculate the dot product ⃗u · (⃗v × w)

⃗
Now we compute the dot product ⃗u · (⃗v × w):
⃗
⃗u · (⃗v × w)
⃗ = ⟨−2, 1, −1⟩ · ⟨13, 14, −11⟩

Calculating this gives:

⃗u · (⃗v × w)
⃗ = (−2)(13) + (1)(14) + (−1)(−11) = −26 + 14 + 11 = −1

Finally, we are ready to find the volume of the parallelepiped which is given by
V = |⃗u · (⃗v × w)|
⃗ = | − 1| = 1

Thus, the volume of the parallelepiped is 1 unit3 .

HOMEWORK: Alternatively, you can directly use the formula in (2.2) of Question 2.
Question 3
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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
(3.1) To evaluate the side lengths of the triangle ∆ with vertices A = (−1, 0, 1), B = (0, −2, 3),
and C = (−4, 4, 1), we will calculate the distances between each pair of points using the
distance formula in three dimensions:
p
d = (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2 + (z2 − z1 )2

We can calculate the length of the 3 sides, AB, BC and AC

p √ √
AB = (0 − (−1))2 + (−2 − 0)2 + (3 − 1)2 = 1 + 4 + 4 = 9 = 3
p √ √ √
BC = (−4 − 0)2 + (4 − (−2))2 + (1 − 3)2 = 16 + 36 + 4 = 56 = 2 14
p √ √
AC = (−3)2 + (4)2 + (0)2 = 9 + 16 + 0 = 25 = 5
√
Thus, the side lengths of the triangle are 3, 2 14, and 5 units, respectively.
(3.2) To determine whether the triangle ∆ with vertices P = (3, 1, −1), Q = (2, 0, 3), and
R = (1, 1, 1) is a right triangle, we will calculate the lengths of the sides and then check
if any two sides satisfy the Pythagorean theorem.
We first indulge in calculating the lengths of the sides of ∆:
p √
P Q = (2 − 3)2 + (0 − 1)2 + (3 − (−1))2 = 3 2
p √
QR = (1 − 2)2 + (1 − 0)2 + (1 − 3)2 = 6
p √
RP = (3 − 1)2 + (1 − 1)2 + (−1 − 1)2 == 2 2
We can now check the condition for the right angle triangle. To determine if the triangle
∆ with vertices P = (3, 1, −1), Q = (2, 0, 3), and R = (1, 1, 1) is a right triangle using
the dot product, we will calculate the vectors representing each side of the triangle and
then find their dot products.
We can first calculate the vectors
P⃗Q = Q − P = (2 − 3, 0 − 1, 3 − (−1)) = (−1, −1, 4)
⃗ = R − Q = (1 − 2, 1 − 0, 1 − 3) = (−1, 1, −2)
QR
⃗ = P − R = (3 − 1, 1 − 1, −1 − 1) = (2, 0, −2)
RP
Having obtained the above 3 vectors, we are now ready to compute the dot products.

To check for right angles, we compute the dot products of each pair of vectors. If the
dot product of any two vectors is zero, then the angle between them is 90◦ , indicating
a right triangle.

P⃗Q · QR
⃗ = (−1)(−1) + (−1)(1) + (4)(−2) = 1 − 1 − 8 = −8
⃗ · RP
QR ⃗ = (−1)(2) + (1)(0) + (−2)(−2) = −2 + 0 + 4 = 2
⃗ · P⃗Q = (2)(−1) + (0)(−1) + (−2)(4) = −2 + 0 − 8 = −10
RP

Since the dot products are not equal to zero, this indicates that none of the angles
between the sides of triangle ∆ are right angles.

Thus, triangle ∆ is not a right triangle, as there are no pairs of sides that are perpen-
dicular to each other.

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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
HOMEWORK:

To check if ∆ is a right triangle: Use the squares of the lengths of the two shorter sides
which must sum to the square of the length of the longest side
(3.3) (a) To determine which two vectors among ⃗u = ⟨0, 1, 1⟩, ⃗v = ⟨2, 2, 0⟩, and w
⃗ = ⟨−1, 1, 0⟩
form a right angle, we will calculate the dot products of each pair of vectors. If the
dot product of any two vectors is zero, then the vectors are perpendicular, indicating a
right angle.
We compute the dot products to obtain
⃗u · ⃗v = (0)(2) + (1)(2) + (1)(0) = 0 + 2 + 0 = 2
⃗u · w
⃗ = (0)(−1) + (1)(1) + (1)(0) = 0 + 1 + 0 = 1
⃗v · w
⃗ = (2)(−1) + (2)(1) + (0)(0) = −2 + 2 + 0 = 0

Since the dot product ⃗v · w

⃗ = 0, this indicates that the vectors ⃗v and w
⃗ are perpendicular
to each other. Therefore, the vectors ⃗v and w ⃗ form a right angle.

(b) Since the dot product ⃗v · w

⃗ = 0 is zero, we deduce that the vectors ⃗v and w
⃗ are
π
perpendicular to each other. Hence the angle between them is θ = 2 .
Question 4
(4.1) Note that we are given the data:
- Length: ||⃗a|| = 3
- Angle: 135◦ from the positive x-axis.
- Length: ||⃗b|| = 13
- Direction: positive x-axis.
- Direction: pointing in the positive y-direction)

The dot product formula is given by:

⃗a · ⃗b = ||⃗a|| ||⃗b|| cos θ.

Where θ is the angle between the two vectors. First, we need to find the angle θ between
⃗a and ⃗b:

- The angle of ⃗a is 135◦ .

- The angle of ⃗b (pointing in the positive y-direction) is 90◦ .

Thus, the angle between ⃗a and ⃗b is therefore given by

θ = 135◦ − 90◦ = 45◦

We can now substitute this into the dot product formula to obtain
⃗a · ⃗b = ||⃗a|| ||⃗b|| cos(45◦ )

Where:

- ||⃗a|| = 3
- ||⃗b|| = 31
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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
- cos(45◦ ) = √1
2

We now substituting these values into the above formula for the dot product:
1 1 1 1
⃗a · ⃗b = 3 · · √ = 1 · √ = √
3 2 2 2

HOMEWORK: Use the given condition to express both vectors in component form.
Then find the angle. Find the coordinates of ⃗a and ⃗b.
√
(4.2) To find the distance between the point P (1, 3, −1) and the line given by the equation
2x − 2y − z = 3, we first rewrite the line in the form ax + by + cz + d = 0.
Starting with the given line equation:

2x − 2y − z − 3 = 0

We can easily identify the coefficients:

- a = 2, - b = −2, - c = −1, - d = −3.

Note that the formula for the distance from a point P (x0 , y0 , z0 ) to a line given by
ax + by + cz + d = 0 is:
|ax0 + by0 + cz0 + d|
D= √
a2 + b 2 + c 2
√ √
Now, substituting in the coordinates of point P (1, 3, −1) where x0 = 1, y0 = 3, and
z0 = −1:
We can now first calculate ax0 + by0 + cz0 + d:

√
ax0 + by0 + cz0 + d = 2(1) + (−2)( 3) + (−1)(−1) − 3

Calculating each term:

√ √
- 2(1) = 2 - −2( 3) = −2 3 - −1(−1) = 1 - −3 = −3
Now combining these and taking the absolute value we obtain

√ √ √ √
D = |2 − 2 3 + 1 − 3| = |0 − 2 3 = −2 3| = 2 3

Now we can√calculate the term representing the magnitude of the normal vector for the
line using: a2 + b2 + c2 to obtain

√ p √ √
a2 + b2 + c2 = 22 + (−2)2 + (−1)2 = 4 + 4 + 1 = 9 = 3

Finally, thus far, substituting

√ these values into the distance formula we obtain that the
distance from the point (1, 3, −1) to the line 2x − 2y − z = 3 is given by
√
2 3
Dist = units2 .
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Question 5
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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
(5.1) Let Q(x, y, z) be a generic point on the plane. Note that the vector P⃗Q = ⟨x − 1, y −
2, z + 3⟩ is orthogonal to the normal vector to the plan, ⃗n = ⟨2, −1, 2⟩, meaning that
⃗n · P⃗Q = 0
from which we deduce that
2(x − 1) − (y − 2) + 2(z + 3) = 0
which is the point normal form of the equation of the plane.
(5.1) (a) Since ⃗n1 · ⃗n2 = 0 then ⃗n1 is perpendicular to ⃗n2 . Hence the 2 planes are perpendic-
ular to each other

(b) Since ⃗n1 · ⃗n2 = 4 ̸= 0 then the two planes are not perpendicular nor parallel.

(c) Since ⃗n1 · ⃗n2 = 0 then the 2 planes are perpendicular.

(d) Since ⃗n1 · ⃗n2 = 16 ̸= 0 then the 2 planes are not perpendicular nor parallel.

Question 6
(6.1) (a) Note that V⃗ = ⟨1, −1, 2⟩ is the direction vector of the line and ⃗n = ⟨1, 2, 3⟩ is the
normal vector to the plane. Hence we compute
⃗n · V⃗ = −7 ̸= 0
and hence the line L is not parallel to the given plane.

(b) Similarly as in (a) we have that

⃗n · V⃗ = 8 ̸= 0
which infer that the line and the plane are not parallel.
Question 7
(7.1) Note that the vector ⃗n = ⟨2, 1, 3⟩ is the direction vector of the line. Therefore, since the
line passes by the point P (2, 0, −1), we deduce that
x = 2 + 2t, y = t, z = −1 + 3t, for t ∈ R.
⃗ = ⟨6, 0, 7⟩ and consider a generic point Q(x, y, z)
(7.2) It is sufficient to first find the vector AB
and we find that
x = 1 + 6t, y = 2, z = 3 − 7t, for t ∈ R.

(7.3) Since ⃗n1 = ⟨−5, 1, −2⟩ and ⃗n2 = ⟨2, −3, 5⟩, we can set z = 0 to find
−2 29
x= and y = .
12 13
Now take the point A −2 , 29 , 0 and set


12 13

V⃗ = ⃗n1 × ⃗n2 = ⟨−1, 21, 13⟩

from which we infer the equation of the line
x = −2 − t, y = 29 + 21t, z = 13t, for t ∈ R.

Question 8
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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
(8.1) We know that
x = 3 + t, y = −1 + t, z = 2 − t, and x = −8 − 3s, y = 2 + 2s, z = −7s for t, s ∈ R.
Equating the values of x and y, we obtain the two equations with two unknowns, t and
s:
t + 3s = −11
t − 2s = 3
from which we deduce after solving simultaneously for t and s that
14 13
s=− and t = − .
5 5
Substituting back into the equations of the lines we obtain the points
 
2 18 23 1
P ,− ,− = − (−2, 18, 23) and
5 5 5 5
 
2 18 98 1
Q ,− , = (2, 18, 98) .
5 5 5 5
Since the points P and Q are different, then we deduce that there is no point of inter-
section between the 2 lines.
(8.2) Similarly as in the above case, we equate the values for x and y to obtain the two
simultaneous equations with two unknowns from which we identify that
2 1
s = and t = −
5 5
from which we infer that we have the points
1
P = (8, −5, 22), Q =???? verify it
5
There is no point of intersections as in the above case.
(8.3) Take z = 0 to find that the point of intersection is
P (11, 4, 0).

Question 9
(9.1) Since RHS = 0 it is enough to show whether that LHS = 0. For this purpose, we
substitute the values for x, y and z

x = 3 + t, y = −1 + t, z = 2 − t, for t ∈ R
into the equation of the plane to obtain
LHS = −2(3 + t) + 3(−1 + t) − 4(2 − t) + 1 = −16 + 5t ̸= 0.

(9.2) Since the direction vector of the line is given by ⃗n = ⟨−3, 2, −7⟩ and knowing the point
P (3, −2, 4) we can take a generic point Q(x, y, z) to obtain the equation of the plane:
3x − 2y + 7z = 41.

Question 10
(10.1) Similarly as in Question (9.2), we have
3(x − 1) + (y + 2) − (z − 3) = 0.
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Ali Solution to Assignment 4 - MAT1503 2024
(10.2) Knowing the direction vector of the line V⃗ = ⟨3, 3, 1⟩ and the two normal vectors
⃗n1 = ⟨1, −2, 3⟩ and ⃗n2 = ⟨−2, 1, 0⟩, we can now easily compute the cross products
⃗n = ⃗n1 × ⃗n2 = −3⟨1, 2, 1⟩
⃗u = ⃗n × V⃗ = −3⟨1, −2, 3⟩

Consider a generic point on the plane Q(x, y, z) and find the vector P⃗0 Q = ⟨x + 1, y −
5, z − 2 and since ⃗u · P⃗0 Q = 0, we have
(x + 1) − 2(y − 5) + 3(z − 2) = 0 or 3(x + 1) − 6(y − 5) + 9(z − 2) = 0.

Z. I. Ali, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida 0003,

South Africa.
Email address: alizi@[Link]

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