1.

Given the vectors M = 11ax + 5ay 9az and N = 9ax + 8ay 3az, find:
a) a unit vector in the direction of M+ 2N and b) |M||2N|(M+ N).
Solution
a) a unit vector in the direction of M+ 2N.
M+ 2N = 11ax 5ay + 9az + 18ax + 16ay 6az = (29, 11, 3)

a=

= (0.931, 0.353, 0.096)

b) |M||2N|(M+ N):
|(11, 5,9)||(18, 16,6)|(2, 13,10) = (15.067)(24.819)(2, 13,10)
= (747.896, 4861.322,3739.479)

2.
Given three points, A(4, 3, 2), B(2, 0, 5), and C(7,2, 1): a) Specify the vector A
extending from the origin to the point A, b) Give a unit vector extending from the origin
to the midpoint of line AB, and c) Calculate the length of the perimeter of triangle ABC:
Solution
a) Specify the vector A extending from the origin to the point A.
A = (4, 3, 2) = 4ax + 3ay + 2az
b) Give a unit vector extending from the origin to the midpoint of line AB.
The vector from the origin to the midpoint is given by
M = (1/2)(A + B) = (1/2)(4 2, 3 + 0, 2 + 5) = (1, 1.5, 3.5)
The unit vector will be

m=

= (0.254, 0.381, 0.889)

c) Calculate the length of the perimeter of triangle ABC:

Begin with AB = (6,3, 3), BC = (9,2,4), CA = (3,5,1).
Then
|AB| + |BC| + |CA| = 7.348 + 10.050 + 5.916 = 23.314

3.

Given points A(8,5, 4) and B(2, 3, 2), find: a) the distance from A to B,
b) a unit vector directed from A towards B. This is found through, and c) a unit vector
directed from the origin to the midpoint of the line AB.
Solution
a) the distance from A to B.
|B A| = |(10, 8,2)| = 12.961
b) a unit vector directed from A towards B. This is found through

aAB =

= (0.771, 0.617,0.154)

c) a unit vector directed from the origin to the midpoint of the line AB.

a0M =

4.

(0.688,0.229, 0.688)

A vector field is specified as G = 24xyax + 12(x2 + 2)ay + 18z2az. Given two points, P(1,
2,1) and Q(2, 1, 3), find: a) G at P, b) a unit vector in the direction of G at Q, a unit
vector directed from Q toward P, and d) the equation of the surface on which |G|
Solution
a) G at P: G(1, 2,1) = (48, 36, 18)
b) a unit vector in the direction of G at Q: G(2, 1, 3) = (48, 72, 162), so

aG =

= (0.262, 0.393, 0.884)

c) a unit vector directed from Q toward P:

aQP =

= (0.588, 0.196,0.784)

d) the equation of the surface on which |G| = 60: We write 60 = |(24xy, 12(x 2 + 2),
18z2)|, or 10 = |(4xy, 2x2 + 4, 3z2)|, so the equation is
100 = 16x2y2 + 4x4 + 16x2 + 16 + 9z4

1.

Use the definition of the dot product to find the interior angles at A and B of the
triangle defined by the three points A(1, 3,2), B(2, 4, 5), and C(0,2, 1):
Solution
a) Use RAB = (3, 1, 7) and RAC = (1,5, 3) to form RAB RAC = |RAB||RAC| cos A.
Obtain 3 + 5 + 21 = 59 35 cos A. Solve to find A = 65.300.

b) Use RBA = (3,1,7) and RBC = (2,6,4) to form RBA RBC = |RBA||RBC| cos B.
Obtain
6 + 6 + 28 = 59 56 cos B. Solve to find B = 45.895.

2.

Given the points M(0.1,0.2,0.1), N(0.2, 0.1, 0.3), and P(0.4, 0, 0.1), find: a) the
vector RMN: RMN, b) the dot product RMN RMP, c) the scalar projection of RMN on RMP, and
d) the angle between RMN and RMP
Solution
a) RMN = (0.2, 0.1, 0.3) (0.1,0.2,0.1) = (0.3, 0.3, 0.4).
b) RMP = (0.4, 0, 0.1) (0.1,0.2,0.1) = (0.3, 0.2, 0.2).
RMN RMP = (0.3, 0.3, 0.4) (0.3, 0.2, 0.2) = 0.09 + 0.06 + 0.08 = 0.05.
c) RMN aRMP = (0.3, 0.3, 0.4)

d) M = cos1

3.

) = cos1 (

= 0.05 0.17 = 0.121

) = 77.996

Given points A(10, 12,6), B(16, 8,2), C(8, 1,4), and D(2,5, 8), determine: a) the
vector projection of RAB + RBC on RAD, and b) the vector projection of RAB +RBC on RDC,
Solution
a) the vector projection of RAB + RBC on RAD: RAB + RBC = RAC
= (8, 1, 4) - (10, 12,-6) = (-2,-11, 10) Then RAD = (-2,-5, 8) - (10, 12,-6)
= (-12,-17, 14). So the projection will be:
(RAC aRAD) aRAD = [ (-2, -11, 10 )

= (6.7,9.5, 7.8)
b) the vector projection of RAB +RBC on RDC : RDC = (8,1, 4)(2,5, 8) = (10, 6,4). The
projection is:
(RAC aRDC)aRDC = [ (2,11, 10)

= (8.3,5.0, 3.3)

= the

angle between RDA and RDC: Use RDA = RAD = (12, 17,14) and RDC = (10, 6,4). The
angle is found through the dot product of the associated unit vectors, or: D =
cos1(aRDA aRDC) = cos1 (

4.

) = 26

Three vectors extending from the origin are given as r1 =(7,3,2),r2 =(2,7,3), andr3
=(0,2,3). Find: a) a unit vector perpendicular to both r1and r2

, b) a unit vector

perpendicular to the vectors r1r2 and r2r3, and c) the area of the triangle defined by
the heads of r1, r2, and r3.
Solution
a) ap12 =

= (0.083,0.413,0.908)

b) r1r2=(9,4,1) and r2r3 = (2,5,6). So r1r2r2r3= (19, 52, 32). Then

ap =

= (0.297,0.813,0.500)

c) Area = |(r2r1)(r2r3)|= |(9,4,1)(2,5,6)|=32.0

5. (Shaums)
If A = 2ax 3ay az and B = ax + 4ay 2az, find a) A X B, and b) (A + B) X (A-B)

Solution
a) A X B = (2ax 3ay az) X (ax + 4ay 2az)
-3

-1

-2