1 The line l1 has equation x − 1 = 2 − y = − z .

The line l2 passes through the point A(−2,1, 7) and is parallel to the vector −3i + j + 5k .

(i) Write down the vector equations of lines l1 and l2 . [2]

(ii) Show that the lines l1 and l2 intersect and find the coordinates of E, the point of
intersection of l1 and l2 . [3]

(iii) The acute angle between the lines l1 and l2 is denoted by θ . By finding cos θ , show
2 2
that sin θ = . Hence find the shortest distance from A to the line l1 , leaving your
35
answer in exact form. [4]

1
 
2 The plane Π1 has equation r ⋅  −2  = 4 . The line l passes through two points A and B
1
 
 2  −7 
   
whose position vectors are  0  and  18  respectively.
 2  −1 
   
(a) Show that the position vector of the point N on Π1 such that BN is perpendicular
1
 
to Π1 is  2  . Hence find the perpendicular distance from B to Π1 . [5]
7
 

(b) Verify that point A lies on Π1 . Hence show that the reflection of l in Π1 is
 −7 
 
parallel to  14  . [3]
 −13 
 

(c) The plane Π 2 is perpendicular to Π1 and contains l. Find the equation of Π 2 in

the form r ⋅ n = p . [3]

(d) Π 3 is perpendicular to both Π1 and Π 2 and contains the line BN. By considering
the triangle ABN, or otherwise, determine
 (i) the distance of A from Π 3 ;

(ii) the acute angle between l and Π 3 . [4]

 −4   3
   
3 A line l has equation r =  0  + λ  −2  , λ ∈ ¡ .
5 1
   
(i) Find the position vector of P , the foot of the perpendicular from the origin O to l.
[3]

(ii) Find a cartesian equation of the plane Π 1 containing O and l . [3]

2
 
(iii) It is given that l also lies in a plane Π 2 with equation r ⋅  k  = −3 , k ∈ ¡ . Show
1
 
7
that k = . [2]
2

(iv) Find the angle between the planes Π 1 and Π 2 , giving your answer in degrees.
[3]

(v) A third plane Π 3 has cartesian equation x + 2 y + z = 7 . Determine the nature of

the intersection of the three planes Π 1 , Π 2 and Π 3 . [3]

 6
 
4 Verify that the point (2, 4, 6) lies on the plane π 1 and π 2 , such that π 1 : r.  −5  = −32 and
 −4 
 
5
π 2 : r.  −1 = 24 . Given that π 1 and π 2 meet in the line l, find a vector equation of the line
3
 
l in the form r = a + λb . [4]

The plane π 3 contains the line l and passes through the point with position vector 4i + 3j +
2k. Find the vector equation of the plane π 3 and express it in the form ax + by + cz = d.
 [4]

Deduce, or prove otherwise, that the system of equations

6 x − 5 y − 4 z = −32
5 x − y + 3 z = 24
9 x − 2 y + 5 z = 40
has an infinite number of solutions. [2]

The plane π 4 is parallel to π 3 and has equation 9 x − 2 y + 5 z = 50 . Comment on the

geometrical representation of the 3 planes π 1 , π 2 and π 4 . [2]

5 As part of a sculpture, an artist erects a flat triangular sheet ABC in his garden. The vertices
are attached to vertical poles DA, EB and FC. The coordinate axes Ox and Oy are horizontal,
and Oz is vertical. The coordinates of triangle are A(2, 0, 2), B(–2, 0, 1) and C(0, 4, 3), with
units in metres.
z
C(0, 4, 3)

B(−2, 0, y
1)
F
E
A(2, 0, 2)
O

i) Find the length of the side AC. [2]

ii) Find the scalar product AB•AC, and the angle BAC. [4]

iii) Show that 2i + 3j – 8k is perpendicular to the lines AB and AC. Hence find the Cartesian
equation of the plane ABC. [4]

iv) The artist decides to erect another vertical pole GH based at the point G(1, 1, 0).
Calculate the height of the pole if H is to lie in the plane ABC. [5]
Solution
1 1
1(i) Equation of l1 is r = 2 + λ  −1 , λ ∈ ¡
 
0  −1
   
 −2   −3 
Equation of l2 is r =  1  + µ  1  , µ ∈ ¡
7 5
   
1(ii) If 1 + λ = −2 − 3µ ----(1)
and 2 − λ = 1 + µ ----(2)
and − λ = 7 + 5µ ----(3),
we have from (1) & (2), λ = 3 and µ = −2 which satisfies (3) since
R.H.S of (3) = 7 + 5( − 2) = − 3 = L.H.S of (3) .
∴ l1 and l2 intersect and the coordinates of E is (4, −1, −3).

(iii)  −3   1 
 1  .  −1
   
 5   −1 
    9 3 3
cosθ = = =
35 3 35 3 35
27 2 2
∴ sin θ = 1 − cos 2 θ = 1 − =
35 35
 −6 
p
sin θ = , where p is the shortest dist from A to l1 and AE =  2 
AE  10 
 
2 2
∴p= × 140 = 4 2
35
 B (−7, 18, −1)
2. (a) 1
  Π2
Π1 : r ⋅  − 2  = 4 l
1
  n1

 −7  1
N
   
lBN : r =  18  + λ  −2  , λ ∈ ¡ A (2, 0, 2)
 −1  1
    Π1

 −7 + λ 
uuur  
ON = 18 − 2λ  for some λ ∈ ¡
 −1 + λ  B’
 
 −7 + λ   1 
   
Thus,  18 − 2λ  ⋅  −2  = 4
 −1 + λ   1 
   

−7 + λ − 2 ( 18 − 2λ ) − 1 + λ = 4 ⇒ λ = 8

 −7 + 8   1 
uuur    
ON = 18 − 2 ( 8 )  =  2  (shown)
 −1 + 8   7 
   

Perpendicular distance
2. (b)  1   −7  1
uuur uuur uuur      
= BN = ON − OB = 2 −
    18 = 8  −2  = 8 1 + 4 + 1 = 8 6 .
 7   −1  1
     

 2  1 
   
 0  ⋅  −2  = 2 + 2 = 4 . Therefore point A lies in Π1. (Verified)
 2  1 
   

2. (c)  −7   2   8   7   −7 
uuuu
r uuur uuur          
AB ′ = AB + 2 BN =  18  −  0  + 2  −16  =  −14  //  14  (shown)
 −1   2   8   13   −13 
         

 −7   2   −9   3
uuur        
AB =  18  −  0  =  18  = −3  −6 
 −1   2   −3  1
       
 
3 1
   
Two vectors // to Π2 are  −6  and  −2  .
1 1
   
  3   1   −4   2
       
 −6  ×  −2  =  −2  = −2  1 
1 1  0 0
       
 2
 
Vector perpendicular to Π2, n 2 =  1  . Also, point A lies in Π2.
 0
 

 2  2  2
     
Therefore,  1  =  0  ⋅  1  = 4 .
r ⋅
 0  2  0
2. (d)(i)      
 2
 
Equation of Π 2 : r ⋅  1  = 4
0
 

Distance A from Π3,

uuur uuur uuu r Π2 B
Π3
AN = ON − OA
l

 1   2   −1  N
     
=  2 −  0 =  2  A
2.(d)(ii) 7  2  5  Π1
     

= 1 + 4 + 25 = 30

Acute angle between l and Π3

=
AN 30
R ABN = tan −1 = tan −1 = 15.6° (to 1 dec. pl.)
BN 8 6

Qn Suggested Solutions
3 Vectors
→  −4 + 3λ 
(i)
 
Since P lies on l , OP =  −2λ  for some λ ∈ R .
 5+λ 
 
→ →  3
 
Since OP ⊥ l , OP⋅  −2  = 0.
1
 
  −4 + 3λ   3 
   
Now  −2λ  ⋅  −2  = 0
 5+λ   1 
   
∴ − 12 + 9λ + 4λ + 5 + λ = 0
14λ = 7
1
λ=
2
  1 
 −4 + 3  2  
  
→   −5 
1  1 
∴ OP =  −2    =  −2 
 2  2 
  11 
1 
 5+  
 2 

(ii)
→  3  1  −5   3  1  20  10 
         
OP ×  −2  =  −2  ×  −2  =  38  = 19 
 1  2  11   1  2  16   8 
         
 10 
 
∴ r ⋅  19  = 0
8
 
The cartesian equation is 10 x + 19 y + 8 z = 0 .
 −4 
  →
Remark: Better to use  0  instead of OP .
 5
 

(iii)  −4 + 3λ   2 
   
 −2λ  ⋅  k  = −3
 5+λ  1
   
−8 + 6λ − 2 kλ + 5 + λ = − 3
−3 + (7 − 2k )λ = −3
⇒ 7 − 2k = 0
7
⇒ k=
2
OR Use point P (or any point on l).
  5
 − 2   2
   
 −1  ⋅  k  = − 3
 11   1 
   
 2 

2
 
Alt. Since l lies in Π 2, l ⊥  k  .
1
 
 2  3 
   
∴  k  ⋅  −2  = 0
1  1 
   

6 − 2k + 1 = 0
7
k=
2

(iv) Let θ be the angle between planes Π 1 and Π 2 .

10   2 
19  ⋅  7 
  2
 8  1
   
cos θ =
525 ⋅ 17.25
∴ θ = 6.8o

(v) The system of equations is

10 x + 19 y + 8 z = 0
7
2 x + y + z = −3
2
x + 2y + z = 7

 10 19 8 0 
 
Hence the augmented matrix is  2 72 1 −3 
1 2 1 7
 
  1 0 −3 0 
 
Using GC, the RREF is  0 1 2 0 
0 0 0 1
 
The last row ⇒ 0 = 1 impossible!

Therefore, there is no solution. The system is inconsistent.

Hence the three planes Π 1 , Π 2 and Π 3 do not intersect.

Alt. l is the line of intersection of Π 1 and Π 2.

Check to see if l intersects with Π 3.

x + 2y + z
= ( −4 + 3λ ) + 2 ( −2λ ) + ( 5 + λ )
=1
≠7

∴ l does not intersect with Π 3.

Hence the 3 planes do not intersect at any common point.

4  2  6   2  5 
     
Since  4 g −5  = −32 and  4 g −1 = 24 , thus the point (2, 4, 6) lies on π 1 and π 2 .
 6   −4  6  3 
     
 6   5   −19  1
       
Direction vector of line l =  −5  ×  −1 =  −38  = −19  2  .
 −4   3   19   −1
       
 2 1
   
Thus l : r =  4  + λ  2  , λ ∈ ¡ .
6  −1
   
 2 1  4   2    2  1  2
      
π 3 : r =  4  + λ  2  + µ  3  −  4   =  4  + λ  2  + µ  −1  , λ , µ ∈ ¡
     
6  −1   2   6    6   −1   −4 
       
 1   2   −9  9
       
Normal vector of π 3 =  2  ×  −1  =  2  = −  −2  .
 −1   −4   −5  5
       
  9   2  9 
    
Thus π 3 : r g −2  =  4 g −2  = 40 .
 5   6  5 
    
Thus Cartesian equation of π 3 is 9 x − 2 y + 5 z = 40 .
The system of linear equations represents the intersection between π 1 , π 2 and π 3 .
Since l is a common line to π 1 , π 2 and π 3 , thus the system has an infinite number of
solutions.
Since π 4 is parallel to π 3 , the planes π 1 , π 2 and π 4 will form an infinite triangular
prism.
5. (i) AC = OC – OA = 4j + 3k – (2i + 2k) = −2i + 4j + k
Length of side AC = |AC| = 4 +16 +1 = 21

(ii) AB = OB – OA = −2i + k – (2i + 2k) = −4i – i

− 4  − 2
   
AB.AC =  0  •  4  = 8 −1 = 7
 −1   1 
   
Let ∠ BAC = θ .
AB .AC 7 7
cos θ = | AB || AC | = =
16 + 1 4 + 16 + 1 17 21
⇒ θ = 68 .3 0

(iii) Vector perpendicular to AB and AC

− 4  − 2   4   2 
       
= AB x AC =  0  x  4  =  6  = 2  3 
 −1   1   −16  −8
       
 2 
 
∴  3  is perpendicular to the lines AB and AC.
 −8 
 
Vector equation of plane ABC is
 2  2   2 
     
r .  3  =  0  .  3  = −12
−8  2  − 8 
     
Cartesian equation of plane ABC is
2x + 3y – 8z = −12

(iv) OG = i + j ，　OH = i + j + λ k
0 
 
GH =  0 
λ
 
H lies on plane ABC. Then
  2 
 
OH •  3  = −12
− 8 
 
 1   2 
   
⇒  1  •  3  = −12
   
λ  −8 
⇒ 2(1) + 3(1) − 8(λ) = −12
⇒ 8λ = 17
17
⇒ λ=
8
 
0 
 
GH =  0 
17
 
8 
17
|GH| =
8
17
Height of pole GH = （or 2.125m）
8