Tutorial 8
O1. In the diagram below, vectors a and b have magnitudes as shown, and a . b = 4 . Find
~ ~ ~ ~
the angle between a and b
~ ~
2. In the diagram below, a=8, b=5, c=7 and d=6. Find
(a) a .b
~ ~
(b) b .c
~ ~
(c) a .d
~ ~
(d) b .d
~ ~
(e) scalar projection of c onto d
~ ~
(f) scalar projection of a onto c
~ ~
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3. In the diagram below, a=6, b=3 and c = 3 3 . Find
(a) a .c
~ ~
(b) b .c
~ ~
(c) the scalar projection of c onto a
~ ~
Remember: When finding the dot product of two vectors, their tails must join.
4. For each of vectors a and b given, find a .b and hence find the angle between a
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and b
~
(a) a = i − 2 j , b = 3 i + 6 j
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(b) a = 3 i − 5 j + 4 k , b = i + j + k
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
5. Find a .b given a = 4,7,−1 and b = − 2,1,4
~ ~ ~ ~
6. For a = 2 i − j + 2 k find the angle a makes with
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(a) the positive y direction
(b) the positive z direction
7. Points D, E and F have coordinates (2,3,0), (4,5,-1) and (3,7,1), respectively. Use the
dot product to prove that the triangle DEF is right-angled.
8. If OABC is the base of a cuboid, and DEFG is the top of the cuboid, and OA = 2 i ,
~
OC = 6 j , OD = 3k , then use a vector method to find the angle between the
~ ~
diagonals OF and CE .
O9. If a = i − 3 j − 2 k and b = 3 i + t j − 6 k , where t R , find the value of t for which b
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
is perpendicular to a .
~
2
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10. If a = i − 2 j − 2 k and b = i − j − k find
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 2~ ~
(a) a .b
~ ~
(b) the cosine of the angle between the directions of a and b
~ ~
(c) the scalar projection of b onto a
~ ~
(d) the vector projection of b onto a
~ ~
11. Given a = i − 2 j + k and b = 4 i − 4 j + 7 k find
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(a) a .b
~ ~
(b) the scalar projection of a onto b
~ ~
(c) the scalar projection of b onto a
~ ~
12. If r = 5 i + 2 j + 3 k and s = 8 i + 4 j − k find
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(a) the component of s parallel to r
~ ~
(b) the component of s perpendicular to r
~ ~
Hint: Draw a diagram with s as a sum of two components; one parallel to r , and one
~ ~
perpendicular to r .
~
O13. If u = 4 i + 7 j− 4 k and v = 4 i − 3 j + k resolve v into two components, one parallel
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(or anti-parallel) to u and the other perpendicular to u .
~ ~
O
14. For the points Q and R with position vectors OQ = 4 i + 2 j and OR = 7 i + j find the
~ ~ ~ ~
inclination of RQ to the positive x direction.
15. If OABC is the base of a cube, and DEFG is the top of the cube, and OA = 2 i ,
~
OB = 2 i + 2 j , OC = 2 j , then show that one of the angles between the diagonals of the
~ ~ ~
cube is approximately 7032 .
16. Find, correct to the nearest degree, the three angles of the triangle with the vertices
A(1,2,3), B(6,1,5), C(-1,-2,0).
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17. Determine whether the given vectors are orthogonal, parallel, anti-parallel or none of
these.
(a) a = 2,−4 , b = − 1,2
~ ~
(b) a = 2,8,−3 , b = − 1,2,5
~ ~
(c) a = 3 i + j − k , b = i − j + 2 k
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
18. Find the values of x such that the given vectors are orthogonal.
(a) x i − 2 j, x i + 8 j
~ ~ ~ ~
(b) x,1,2 , 3,4, x
0
19. For what values of c is the angle between the vectors 1,2,1 and 1,0, c equal to 60 ?
20. Find the angle between a diagonal of a cube and one of its edges.
O21. Given the vectors 𝐚 = −𝐢 + 2𝐣 + 5𝐤, 𝐛 = −𝐢 + 2𝐣 + 2𝐤, 𝐜 = 4𝐢 − 3𝐣 + 𝑥𝐤, where
𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 find
(a) the vector projection of 𝐛 onto 𝐚
(b) the component of 𝐛 perpendicular to 𝐚
(c) the value of 𝑥 so that 𝐚 and 𝐜 are orthogonal
22. Given the vectors 𝐚 = 𝐢 − 𝐣 + 𝐤, 𝐛 = 2𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝐤
(a) Show that 𝐚 and 𝐛 are not perpendicular
(b) Find the component of 𝐛 parallel to 𝐚
(c) Find the component of 𝐛 perpendicular to 𝐚
23. Given the points 𝑃(1,2,3), 𝑄(−1,0,2), 𝑅(2, −1,1)
(a) Find ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃𝑄 ∙ 𝑅𝑄
(b) Are ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑃𝑄 and 𝑅𝑄 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ orthogonal?
24. Given 𝐚 = 𝑥𝐢 − 2𝐣 + 𝐤 and 𝐛 = 2𝐢 + 𝐣 − 3𝐤 find 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, if it exists, such that
(a) 𝐚 and 𝐛 are parallel
(b) 𝐚 and 𝐛 are perpendicular
(c) |𝐚||𝐛| = 14
(d) the scalar projection of 𝐚 onto 𝐛 is √14
25. If the coordinates of a triangle are 𝐴(1,2,3), 𝐵(−1,0,2) and 𝐶(2, −1, −1) find the
cosine of the angle between the median at 𝐴 and an edge at 𝐴.
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26. If the triangle in the diagram below is equilateral and each edge is 2 units in length
find a .c
~ ~
27. Given 𝐚 = 𝐢 + 𝐣 + 𝐤 and 𝐛 = 2𝐢 − 𝐣 − 2𝐤
(a) find the scalar projection of 𝐛 onto 𝐚
(b) find the vector projection of 𝐛 onto 𝐚
(c) show |𝐚||𝐛| ≠ |𝐚 ∙ 𝐛|
28. Given the vectors 𝐚 = 2𝐢 − 3𝐣 + 𝐤, 𝐛 = 𝐢 + 2𝐣 − 𝐤 and 𝐜 = 𝐢 + 𝐣 − 4⁄7 𝐤 find the
scalar 𝑚 such that 𝐚 + 𝑚𝐛 is perpendicular to 𝐜.
29. Given 𝐚 = 𝐢 + √3𝐣 and 𝐛 = 2𝐣 find
(a) 𝐚 ∙ 𝐛
(b) the angle between 𝐚 and 𝐛
(c) the scalar projection of 𝐛 onto 𝐚
(d) the vector projection of 𝐛 onto 𝐚
(e) the component of 𝐛 perpendicular to 𝐚
30. Given 𝐚 = 2𝐢 + 3𝐣 + 𝐤 and 𝐛 = 𝐢 + 4𝐣 find the angle that each of 𝐚 and 𝐛 makes with
the positive direction of the 𝑧 axis.
31. Let 𝐚 = 〈2,1,3〉 and 𝐛 = 〈−1,7,4〉. Use Octave to calculate:
(a) The unit vector in the direction of 𝐚
(b) The unit vector in the direction of 𝐛
(c) The angle between 𝐚 and 𝐛 in degrees
(d) The scalar projection of 𝐚 onto 𝐛
(e) The scalar projection of 𝐛 onto 𝐚
(f) The vector component of 𝐚 parallel to 𝐛
(g) The vector component of 𝐚 perpendicular to 𝐛
(h) The vector component of 𝐛 parallel to 𝐚
(i) The vector component of 𝐛 perpendicular to 𝐚
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ANSWERS
1. 480 11’
2. (a) 20 (b) − 35 (c) -24 (d) -30 (e) 3.5 (f) –8
2
3. (a) -27 (b) 0 (c) − 9
2
4. (a) -9, 1260 52’ (b) 2, 800 36’
5. –5
6. (a) Cos −1 (− 13 ) = 109 0 28 (b) Cos −1 ( 23 ) = 48011
7. ED⊥ EF
8. 1170 59
9. 5
10. (a) 4 (b) 8
9 (c) 4
3 (d) 94 ( i − 2 j − 2 k )
~ ~ ~
11. (a) 19 (b) 19
9 (c) 19
6
12. (a) 38
45
(5i + 2 j + 3k ) (b) 381 (79i + 62 j − 173k )
13. − 19 (4 i + 7 j − 4 k ), 95 (8 i − 4 j + k )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
0
14. 161 34’
15. No answer given.
16. 114 0 , 330 , 330
17. (a) Anti-Parallel (b) Neither (c) Orthogonal
4
18. (a) 4 (b) −
5
19. 3.7 or 0.27
20. Cos −1 ( 13 ) 550
21. (a) 1⁄2 〈−1,2,5〉 (b) 〈− 1⁄2 , 1, − 1⁄2〉 (c) 𝑥 = 2
22. (a) 𝐚 ∙ 𝐛 ≠ 0 (b) 2⁄3 〈1, −1,1〉 (c) 1⁄3 〈4,5,1〉
23. (a) 3 (b) No, since 𝑃𝑄 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑅𝑄
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ≠ 0
24. (a) No 𝑥 exists (b) 𝑥 = ⁄2 (c) 𝑥 = ±3 (d) 𝑥 = 19⁄2
5
25. 17⁄ or 34⁄
3√51 √1326
26. -2
27. (a) − 1⁄ (b) − 1⁄3 〈1,1,1〉 (c) 𝐿𝐻𝑆 = 3√3 but 𝑅𝐻𝑆 = 1
√3
28. 𝑚 = 11⁄25
29. (a) 2√3 (b) 𝜋⁄6 (c) √3 (d) √3⁄2 〈1, √3〉 (e) 〈− √3⁄2 , 1⁄2〉
30. 74.5° and 90°, respectively
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31.