Pioneer Junior College

H2 Mathematics
Tutorial 15 (a) : Vectors (Part A : Vector Algebra and Scalar Product)
(Supplementary Questions) JC2-2013


1. Points A and B have position vectors a and b respectively, referred to an origin O.

Prove that the point Q whose position vector q is given by q = a + (1 )b is
collinear with A and B. Given that a =
\

|
.
|
|
|
1
1
0
and b =
\

|
.
|
|
|
4
2
6
, find the two possible values
of for which the angle between OA and OQis 60. [4]


2.
(a)












The points S and T are the ends of the diameter of a circle with centre O. U is a point
such that it lies on the circumference of the circle. Taking the centre O as the origin,
the position vectors of points S, T and U are s, t and u respectively.

Write out the vectors and SU TU

in terms of s, t and u and hence show that the line
segments SU and TU are perpendicular. [3]

(b) Given that OAPB is a parallelogram and Q is the mid point of AP. OP meets BQ at X.
The position vectors of A and B are a and b respectively.
(i) Find and OP OQ

in terms of a and b. [2]
(ii) If R is the point on BQ produced such that BQ = QR, show that R is on OA
produced and that OR = 2OA. [3]




O
S
T
U
3 In triangle OAB, 90 OAB Z = and the point C on AB is such that
2
3
AC CB = . With
respect to the origin O, the position vectors of A and B are given as a and b respectively.

(i) Show that
2
a.b = a . [1]

(ii) Find c, the position vector of C in terms of a and b. [1]

(iii) Given that the lengths of OA and OB are 3 and 5 units respectively, find the
length of projection of c onto b. [3]


4 With respect to the origin O, the position vectors of two points A and B are given by a
and b respectively where 1, 2 and 1 = = = a b a b . C is the point on AB such that
2 AC CB = .

(i) Find the position vector of the point C in terms of a and b. [1]
(ii) Show that the length of projection of OC onto OB is
3
2
and deduce the position
vector of the foot, N, of the perpendicular from C to the OB. [4]
(iii) Find the value of such that C, D and N are collinear where OD = + a b. [3]


5 By considering the scalar product a b, where
1 2 3
a a a a = i + j + k and

1 2 3
b b b b = i + j + k , prove that

2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1 2 2 3 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
( ) ( )( ). a b a b a b a a a b b b + + s + + + + [3]

Answer

1 =
4
3
or =
2
3
3(ii)
3 2
5 5
c a b = + (iii) 3.08
4(ii)
3
4
b ON = (iii)
1
2
=