Chapter 5 Algebraic Vectors and Applications

Solutions for Selected Problems

15. If two unit vectors are the sides of an equilateral

triangle then their sum as well as their difference

could be a unit vector.

Exercise 5.1
13. c.


(9, 12)
OG


2
(9)2  (12)2

OG

81  144

225



OG

5
12
tan 
.
9
Since G is in the second quadrant
 180  53
 127.



e. OJ

If a
 

b
c
 where
a





b

1 and the angle




between a and b is 120 then
c


1. Also c
 

b
a

where as above
a





b


c


1.

16. a. a

(2, 3, 2)

5 ,  5 
2

60

a

2
4  9  4


2
4  6

OJ
5

a


17
.

2

b.



2

OJ

Now

6
tan 
 .
2
Since J is in the fourth quadrant,
 360  51
 309.
14. a.

c.

If a

(12, 4, 6)

then
a

2
144  16  36

196

a


14.
14 22 7
If c

, , 
27 27 27

1

c


1.

    

17

17

17

2

1

1
therefore  a
 is a unit vector.



a

17. a.

v

2i 3j 6k

(2, 3, 6)

v

2
4  9  36

49
therefore
v


7.

b. A unit vector in the direction of v
 is

196  484  49
then
c



729
2

1 a

2, 3,  2

17 17


17


a


1
v


 v


v

2
3
6
v

i  j  k
7
7
7

2
3
6
v

, ,  .
7
7
7


18.
v
(3, 4, 12)

v

2
9  16  144

169

v


13.
A unit vector in a direction opposite to
12
3
4
v
 is , ,  .
13
13
13

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

53

19. Let a
 be a vector in two dimensions making an angle

23.

C c

 with the x-axis. Now a
 in component form is

,b,c)

P (a

a


a

cos ,
a

sin  . A unit vector in the

1
direction of a
 is  a

(cos , sin ) therefore any



a

unit vector in two dimensions can be written as
(cos , sin ).
21. a. u

(a, b, c)

O
b
a
A

In OAB, OAB
90 therefore OB2
OA2  AB2.

In OBP, OBP
90 therefore OP2
OB2  BP2.
Hence OP2
OA2  OB2  BP2 but OA
a,
OB
b, BP
OC
c.

2



a
Therefore
OP
 b 2
 c 2.

24. A vector in R4, u

(4, 2, 5, 2) might have a

a
x

a
cos
, since is acute, a is positive.

u


Exercise 5.2

b. u

(a, b, c)

8. a. Given the points P(15, 10), Q(6, 4), R(12, 8)

magnitude of
u

2
42  22  (5)2  22

u

2
16  4  25  4

u



49,

u


7.
It is very tempting to think that a geometric
interpretation can be given. Mathematically we wish
to consider vectors with n elements, n any integer, and
a geometric interpretation is not possible for n 4.


(9, 6), PR


(27, 18)
PQ

3( 9, 6).


3PQ

, P, Q, and R are
Since PR
collinear.

b. D(33, 5, 20), E(6, 4, 16), F(9, 3, 12)

b
cos
 since is obtuse, b is negative.

u


22. Since the direction angles , , and are all equal, say

 then cos2   cos2   cos2 
1

1
cos2 

3
11
cos 
 or
3

1
cos 

3

 55
 125
The direction angles are 55 or 125.

54

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications


(27, 9, 36), EF


(e, 1, 4)
DE

9(3, 1, 4)

.

9EF


9EF

, D, E, and F are collinear.
Since DE

9. b. A(0, 1, 0), B(4, 0, 1), C(5, 1, 2), D(2, 3, 5)

Let P2 (a2, b2) be a vertex of parallelogram AP2CB.


(4, 1, 1), CD


(3, 2, 3)
AB

  k  CD

, k  R, AB is not parallel
Since AB


BC

 and (a  5, b 3)
(2, 10)
Now AP
2
2
2
therefore a2
3, b2
7.

to CD.

P3(a3, b3) is a vertex of parallelogram ABP3C.





AB
16  1
1

18



AC

 and (a 5, b 2)
(12, 11)
Now BP
3
3
3
therefore a3
17, b3
9.

32

The possible coordinates of the fourth vertex are

P1(7, 9), P2(3, 7) and P3(17, 9).





CD
94
9

22




CD


.

AB

12.
C(4, 0, 1)

10. PQRS is a parallelogram. The coordinates are in cyclic


SR

. If R has coordinates (a, b)
order therefore PQ


(10, 1) and SR


(a  3, b  4).
PQ


SR

, a  3
10, a
13
Since PQ
b  4
1, b
5
The coordinates of S are (13, 5).
y

R(a, b)

S
B(3, 6, 1)

O(0, 0, 0)

A(2, 4, 2)

Opposite faces of a parallelepiped are congruent

parallelograms.


OC

  OB


Now OP

(4, 0, 1)  (3, 6, 1)


OP
(7, 6, 0).



  AR

 

OQ
OA
RQ

P(4, 2)

Q(6, 1)

S(3, 4)

11. Let the three vertices be A(5, 3), B(5, 2), C(7, 8).

There will be 3 possible positions for the fourth

vertex. Let one position be P1(a1, b1) for
parallelogram ACBP1.


BP

 and (12, 11)
(a  5, b 2).
CA
1
1
1
Therefore a1
7, b1
9.

  OB

  OC



OA

(2, 4, 2)  (3, 6, 1)  (4, 0, 1)

(9, 10, 2).






OR
OA  OB

(2, 4, 2)  (3, 6, 1)


OR
(5, 10, 1)


OA

  OC


OS

(2, 4, 2)  (4, 0, 1)


OS
(6, 4, 3)
The other 4 coordinates are (7, 6, 0), (9, 10, 2),
(5, 10, 1), and (6, 4, 3).

A(5, 3)

B(5, 2)
x

C(7, 8)

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

55

13. Let the midpoint in each case be M and the position

.
vector OM

1
2
Expanding and equating components
2x  12 2
0
x
5,
2 3y  1
0

b. 2(x, 1, 4) 3(4, y, 6) (4, 2, z)
(0, 0, 0)

a. A(5, 2), B(13, 4)

  OB


OA



OM

2

1
y
,
3

(5, 2)  (13, 4)


2

1
8 18 z
0
2


(4, 3).
OM

z
20.

b. C(3, 0), D(0, 7)

  OD


OC



OM

2
1

(3, 7)
2


3, 7 .
OM
2 2
c. E(6, 4, 2), F(2, 8, 2)

  OF


OE



OM

2
1

(4, 12, 0)
2


OM
(2, 6, 0).

15. Given points X(7, 4, 2) and Y(1, 2, 1)


(6, 2, 3).

XY

 is
XY




The magnitude of XY
36  4
9

7.
A unit vector in a direction opposite to XY has
6 2
3

6, 2, 3 .
components , , and , or YX
7 7
7
7 7
7

16. a. A point on the y-axis has coordinates P(0, a, 0).

Since it is equidistant from A(2, 1, 1) and

B(0, 1, 3)




BP


or
AP


2

BP


2

AP
therefore 4  (a  1)2  1
(a  1)2  9
a2  2a  6
a2  2a  10
4a
4
a
1.
The point on the y-axis equidistant from A and B is
(0, 1, 0).

d. G(0, 16, 5), H(9, 7, 1)




OG  OH



OM

2
1

(9, 9, 6)
2


9, 9, 3 .
OM
2 2
14. a. 3(x, 1) 2(2, y)
(2, 1)

(3x, 3)  (4, 2y)
(2, 1)

(3x 4, 3 2y)
(2, 1)
Equating components
3x  4
2,
3  2y
1
x
2
y
1.

b. The midpoint of AB is the point Q(1, 0, 2) which is

not on the y-axis and is equidistant from A and B.

17. a.

A(2, 3, 4)
2

C(1, 3, 7)

B(3, 4, 2)

Since AM is a median of ABC, M will be the

midpoint of BC. Therefore the coordinates of M

1
5
are 2, ,  .
2
2

56

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

d. O(0, 0, 0), I(1, 0, 0), J(0, 1, 0), K(0, 0, 1)


0, 2, 3
Now AM
2


1 (1, 1, 1)
OG
4

9
 
4
4

5

.
2
5
The length of median AM is .
2




and
AM


1 1 1
The centroid is , , .
4 4 4


1, 1, 1 .
OG
4 4 4

b. Let G be the centroid of ABC.

2
AG

3

5
AM
.
3
5
The distance from A to the centroid is .
3

Since AG:GM
2:1

2(0, 0)  3(4, 1)  5(1, 7)  1(11, 9)

2351



19. a. OG
(12  5  11, 3  35  9)


11

18. In each case let the centroid be G with position

  O




OA
B  OC



OG

3
1

(1  4  2, 2  1  2)
3

 


1, 1 .
OG
3

1(1, 4, 1)  3(2, 0, 1)  7(1, 3, 10)



b. OG
137

1

 (1  6  7, 4  21, 1  3  70)
11

  O




OI
J  OK



OG

3


1 1 1
The centroid is , , .
3 3 3
c. A1(3, 1), A2(1, 1), A3(7, 0), A4(4, 4)


1 (OA

  OA

  OA

  OA

 )
OG
1
2
3
4
4
1

 (3  1  7  4, 1  1  4)
4

15

, 1 .
4

15
The centroid is , 1 .
4

17 72


2, 
OG
,  .
11 11
11

b. I(1, 0, 0), J(0, 1, 0), K(0, 0, 1)

41
8
The centre of mass is ,  .
11
11

1
The centroid is 1,  .
3


1, 1, 1 .

OG
3 3 3

41


18, 
OG
 .
11
11

.
vector OG
a. A(1, 2), B(4, 1), C(2, 2)

17 72
2
The centre of mass is , ,  .
11 11
11

Exercise 5.3
7. b.

c

(1, 2, 3), d

(4, 2, 1)

c
 d


c


d

cos 
c
 d

4  4  3
3

c



14
9

14
.
d

16

 4
1

21
.
3
cos 

14 21

cos  0.1750.

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

57

10. u

3j  4k
(0, 3, 4)

8. c. i
(1, 0, 0);
i

1


(1, 1, 1);
m



3
m


1
i m



i

m


cos 
i m
1
cos 

3
 55

 is 55.
The angle between vectors i and m
d.

p
(2, 4, 5);


p


4  16
 25
45





q
(0, 2, 3);
q

4
 9
13



p q

8  15
7


p q




p

q

cos 


(a, b, c).
Let w

 u
, w

 u

0, and 3b  4c
0
Since w

 u
, w

 v

0, and 2a
0.
w
Solving these equations, we have a
0 and if
b
4, c
3.

 is (0, 4, 3).
A possible vector w


(10, y, z) are
11. Since a

(2, 3, 4) and b
perpendicular a
 b

0. Therefore 20  3y  4z
0
4
20
and y
z  .
3
3

 v

a. LS
u

The angle between vectors p
 and q
 is 73.


(4, y, 14)
9. a

(2, 3, 7); b

 are collinear if a

kb
, k  R
a. a
 and b
therefore (2, 3, 7)
k (4, y, 14)
3
ky,

(2, 0, 0).


(1, 5, 8), v

(1, 3, 2).

12. u

7
cos 


45 13

 73

2
4k,
1
k

2

v

2i

7
14k
1
k

2

1
Since k
, y
6, a
 and b
 will be collinear.
2

 b

0
b. If the vectors are perpendicular a
8  3y  98
0
3y
106
106
y
.
3
106
If y
, a
 and b
 will be perpendicular.
3

1  15  16

2
RS
v
 u


1  15  16

2
therefore u
 v

v
 u
.

 u

b. LS
u

1  25  64

90
RS

u

2

1  25  64

90
therefore u
 u


u

2.
LS
v
 v


194

14
RS

v

2

194

14
therefore v
 v


v

2.

  v
) (u
  v
)

c. LS
(u

(0, 8, 6) (2, 2, 10)

16  60

76
RS

u

2 

v
2

90  14

76
therefore (u
 
v ) (u
 
v )

u

2 

v
2.

58

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

d. LS
u
 

v  u
 
v 

(0, 8, 6) (0, 8, 6)

64  36

100
RS

u

2  2 u

v 

v
2

90  2 (2)  14

90  4  14

100
therefore (u
 
v ) (u
 
v )

u

2  2 u

v 

v
2.

e.

(2u
)
v

(2, 10, 16) (1, 3, 2)

2  30  32

4
u
 (2v
)

(1, 5, 8) (2, 6, 4)

2  30  32

4
z(u

v )

2 (2)

4
therefore (u
)
v
u
 (2v
)
2(u

v ).


(1, 7, 8)
13. u

(2, 2, 1),

v
(3, 1, 0), w

)
LS
u
 (u
  w

(2, 2, 1) (4, 6, 8)

8  12  8

12


RS
u

v  u
 w

6  2  2  14  8

12


u

v  u
 w

.
therefore u
 v
  w
14. a. (4i  j ) j
4i j  j j

0 
j
2

1.
)
k j  3k k
b. k (j  3k

0  3(1)

3.

) (i  4k)
i i  8i b  16k k
c. (i  4k

1  0  16

17.

15. a. (3a
  4b
) (5a
  6b
)

15a
 a
  38a
 b
  24b
 b


15
a

2  38a
 b
  24
b

2.

b. (2a
  b
) (2a
  b
)

4a
 a
  b
 b


4
a

2 
b

2.

16. a

  3j  k,

b

2  4j  5k

(1, 3, 1)

(2, 4, 5)




3a  b
(3, 9, 3)  (2, 4, 5)

(1, 5, 2)




2b  4a
(4, 8, 10)  (4, 12, 4)

(8, 20, 14)




(3a  b) (2b
  4a
)
(1, 5, 2) (8, 20, 14)

8  100  28








(3a  b) (2b  4a )
80.
17. Since 2a
  b
 is perpendicular to a
  3b
,

(2a
  b
) (a
  3b
)
0

therefore 2
a

2  5a
 b
  3
b

2
0

2
a

2  5
a


b

cos   3
b

2
0.
But
a


2
b

.
Substituting gives 8
b

2  10
b

2 cos   3
b

2
0
10 cos 
5
1
cos 

2

60.
The angle between a and b is 60.
18. Since a and b are unit vectors, a

b

1.
a. (6a  b) (a  2b)
6
a
2  11
a

b
cos   2
b
2

6  11 cos   2

4  11 cos .
But 
60 therefore 4  11 cos 
4  11 cos 60
11

4  
2
3


2
3
(6a  b) (a 2b)
.
2

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

59

b.

20. a.


a

a +

b
a +

180 
O

Let  be the angle between the unit vectors a and b
.

From the cosine law

a  b
2

a
2 
b
2  2
a

b
cos(180  ).


A

, OB


AC


b
, OC


a
  b
.
OA


Since a is perpendicular to b
 OAC
90.

Now
a  b

3 and cos(180  )
cos 

therefore 3
1  1  2
a

b
cos 
1
2a b
1
a b
.
2
Now (2a  5b) (b  3a)
13a b  6
a
2  5
b
2


2

OA


2 
AC


2
In OAC,
OC
i.e.,
a
  b

2

a

2 
b

2.
The usual name of this result is the Pythagorean
Theorem.
b.

13

  6  5
2
11
(2a  5b ) (b  3a)
.
2
19. a

3i  4j  k
(3, 4, 1)
b
  2i  3j  6k
(2, 3, 6)
a
 b

6  12  6


a
, OB


b

From OAB, OA








BA
c
a  b and BOA
.


2

OA


2 
OB


2  2
OA



OB


cos 
Now
BA

c

2

a

2 
b

2  2
a


b

cos .

The result here is called the Cosine Law.

Let u
 and v
 be the sides of the rhombus.

Add: 2v

(5, 1, 7)

c=a b

a rhombus.

u
  v

b

(2, 3, 6)

0.
Since a
 b

0, a
 b
 and the parallelogram will be

u
  v

a

(3, 4, 1)

21.

3x y = 5

a, b
y

Subtract: 2u

(1, 7, 5)

The angle between u
 and v
 is the same as the angle

between 2u
 and 2v
.

Therefore (2u
) (2v
)

2u


2v

cos 
5  7  35
(1  49  25) cos 
23
cos 

75
 108.
The angles between the sides of the rhombus are 108
and 72.
53
Now
2u



75
53,
u



2
53
the lengths of the sides of the rhombus are .
2

60

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

In questions such as this a specific example can

illustrate the desired result. Suppose a

(3, 1)
and b

(3, 4) then a
 b

5
Now, for c

(p, q), if a
 c

a
 b

3p  q
5.
There is an infinite number of possibilities for c
, one
of which is b
.

However, others such as (1, 2) have c
 b
.

In fact c
 is any vector having its end point on the line
3x  y
5.

  b
) (a

 b
)
0, (a

  b
) (a
  b
).
25. a. Since (a


a  b
 and a
  b
 represent the diagonals of a
parallelogram having sides

a and b
 . Since
the diagonals are perpendicular to each other, the
a


b

.
parallelogram is a rhombus with



22. Given vector a

4i  3j  k

(4, 3, 1)
A vector parallel to the xy-plane has the form
u

(p, q, 0).
Since a
 u
, a
 u

0 and 4p  3q
0.
Choosing p
3 and q
4 gives vector u

(3, 4, 0) which
is perpendicular to a
.

b. Since
u
  v



u
  v

,

u
  v

2

u
  v

2.

But (u
  v
) (u
  v
)

u
  v

2
and (u
  v
) (u
  v
)

u
  v

2
therefore (u
  v
) (u
  v
)
(u
  v
) (u
  v
)

Now
u



9  16
5 therefore a unit vector in the
3 4
xy-plane perpendicular to a
 is u

, , 0 .
5 5
23. Given that x
  y
  z
0 and
x


2,
y


3,
z

4.

u
 u
  2u
 v
  v
 v

u
 v
  2u
 v
  v
 v


4u
 v

0
u
 v

0.
Therefore u
 v
.

Now (x
  y
  z) (x
  y
  z)
o
 o

0.

u
 and v
 represent the sides of a rectangle whereas

a
 and b
 were the sides of a rhombus.

Therefore x
 x
  y
 y
  z z  2x
 y
  2x
 z  2y
 z
0

x

2 
y

2 
z
2  2(x
 y
  x
 z  y
 z)
0

4  9  16  2(x
 y
  x z  y
 z)
0
29
and x
 y
  x
 z  y
 z
.
2

C(0, 0, 1)

Q(0, 1, 1)

Equality holds when cos 
1; i.e.,


a and b

are collinear.
If a

a1, a2 and b

b1, b2

then
a1b1  a2b2


a12  
a22


b12  
b22.

If a

a1, a2, a3 and b

b1, b2, b3

P(1, 1, 1)
O

a
 b


a


b

.

24.

 b
 


26. Since a
a

b

cos  and
cos 
1

B(0, 1, 0)
y

A(1, 0, 0)


(1, 1, 1) and
Two body diagonals of the cube are OP


AQ
(1, 1, 1).

then
a1b1  a2b2  a3b3


a12  
a22  
a32 
b12  
b22  
b32.
For a general solution to the Cauchy-Schwarz
inequality refer to Exercise 12.2 question 18.

Exercise 5.4

 AQ



OP



AQ


cos  where  is an angle
Now OP
between the body diagonals.

7. i
(1, 0, 0), j
(0, 1, 0), k
(0, 0, 1)

a. i j
(0, 0, 1)
k .
b. k j
(1, 0, 0)
i.

 AQ


1  1  1
1
OP

8. a.



3,

OP



3.

AQ

1
Therefore cos 
 and  71
3
The body diagonals of a cube make angles of 71 and 119
to each other.

Let u

(u1, u2, u3)

v

(v1, v2, v3)
v

(v1, v2, v3)
u
 v

(u2v3  v2u3, v1u3 u1v3, u1v2  v1u2)
 v
 u

(v2u3  u2v3,  u1v3  v1u3,  v1u2
 u1v2)

u
 v
.

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

61



kv
.
b. If u
 and v
 are collinear, u

Let v

(a, b, c) then u

(ka, kb, kc)

u
 v

(kbc  bkc, akc  kac, kbc  bkc)

(0, 0, 0)
u
 v

0.

12.

n=a b



9. (a
a)(b
 b
)  (a b
)2




a
2
b

2  (


a

b

cos )2




a
2
b

2 (1  cos2 )




a
2
b

2 sin2 
therefore RS



a
2
b

2 
sin2 




a

b


sin 
.
But 0  180 therefore sin  0
and RS

a


b

sin 


a
 b






 b
)2.
therefore


a

b



(a
b b) 
(a
a)(
10.

a
(2, 1, 0), b

(1, 0, 3), c

(4, 1, 1)

 b
 c

(3, 6, 1) (4, 1, 1)

a. a

12  6  1

19.
b. b
 c


a
(3, 13, 1) (2, 1, 0)

19.
c. c


a b

(1, 2, 6) (1, 0, 3)

19.

 b
) c

(3, 6, 1) (4, 1, 1)
d. (a

(5, 1, 21).

 c
)

e. (b
a
(3, 13, 1) (2, 1, 0)

(1, 2, 23).
f. (c


a) b

(1, 2, 6) (1, 0, 3)

(6, 3, 2).


(p, q, r)
11. Let u

v

(a, b, c) and w


(br  qc, pc  ar, aq  bp)

v
 w

)
[b(aq  bp)  c(pc  ar),
u
 (v
 w
c(br  qc)  a(aq bp), a(pc  ar)  b(br  qc)]


(0, 0, 0)
u
 v

(0, 0, 0); (u
 v
) w

) (u
 v
) w

.
hence u
 (v
 w

62

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

(a b) a

a
 b
 is a vector that is perpendicular to both a
 and

b
. Let n

a
 b
. Now n
 a
 is a vector that is
perpendicular to both n
 and a
. Therefore n
 a
, n
 and
a
 are perpendicular to each other; i.e., (a
 b
) a
,
a
 b
 and a
 are mutually perpendicular.
13. Let u

(u1, u2, u3), v

(v1, v2, v3), and


(w , w , w ).
w
1
2
3


(v w  w v , w v  v w ,
Now v
 w
2 3
2 3
1 3
1 3
v1w2 w1v2)

)
u v w  u w v  u w v  u v w
u
 (v
 w
1 2 3
1 2 3
2 1 3
2 1 3
 u3v1w2  u3w1v2.
Also u
 v

(u2v3  v2u3, v1u3  u1v3, u1v2  v1u2)


w u v  w v u  w v u
and (u
 v
) w
1 2 3
1 2 3
2 1 3
 w2u1v3  w3u1v2  w3v1u2

).

u (v
 w


(3, 1, 2), b
(1,
14. a. We show this by choosing a

1, 1), and c

(p, q, r). Now a
 b

(3, 5, 2)
and a
 c

(r 2q, 2p  3r, 3q  p).
If a
 b

a
 c
 then r  2q
3

2p  3r
5

3q  p
2

Choose q
k, from r
2k  3, from

p
3k  2. These values for r and k satisfy .
This shows that there are an infinite number of
possibilities for c
. For one such value choose
k
2.
r
1, p
4, q
2, and
c

(4, 2, 1)


a b

a
 c

(3, 5, 2) and b c.

b.

Exercise 5.5

a b

5. a.

A(1, 1, 1)


(2, 1, 5), v

(3, y, z),

15. a. Given a

(1, 3, 1), b
and a
 v

b
.
a
 v

(3z  y, 3  z, y  a)
(2, 1, 5)
Equating components gives y
4, z
2, and
3z  y
6  4
2.
Therefore v

(3, 4, 2).

b. Let v

(a, b, c).

Now a
 v

(3c  b, a  c, b  3a)

(2, 1, 5).
Equating components gives 3c  b
2

a  c
1

b  3a
5.

From and we have b
2  3c and

a
1  c.
b  3a
2  3c  3 (1  c)
5 which
satisfies .
This shows that choosing any value for c in ,
substituting to find b and a from and will
satisfy hence giving another vector v
. Let
c
2, from b
8 and from a
1.
Therefore v

(1, 8, 2) is another vector so that
a
 v

b
.
c. We see from part b that c is any real number, hence

there will be an infinite number of vectors v
.

B(1, 0, 0)


(1, 1, 1); an edge is OB


A body diagonal is OA

 is

i
(1, 0, 0). The projection of i onto OA

A O

A
i O
(1, 0, 0) (1, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1)
  
 






OA

OA

3
3
1

(1, 1, 1)
3
1 1 1

(, , ).
3 3 3
b. The projection of a body diagonal onto an edge is

 onto i which is i
(1, 0, 0).

the projection of OA

6. a. a

(1, 2, 2)

b

(1, 3, 0)
The area of the parallelogram is

a
 b

.
a
 b

(6, 2, 5)
therefore
a
 b



36  4
 25
65


b. c

(6, 4, 12)
2(3, 2, 6)

d

(9, 6, 18)
3(3, 2, 6).

2
Since c

d
, c
 and d
 are collinear therefore no
3
parallelogram is formed, hence its area is zero.

7. a. A triangle with vertices A(7, 3, 4), B(1, 0, 6) and

C(4, 5, 2).


(6, 3, 2)
Two sides are defined by AB


(3, 2, 6)
and AC

 AC


(14, 42, 21)
AB

7(2, 6, 3)

 AC



7

AB
4  36
9

49
1


the area of ABC

AB
AC

2
49

.
2
Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

63

b. A triangle with vertices P(1, 0, 0), Q(0, 1, 0),

R(0, 0, 1).


(1, 1, 0)
Now two sides are PQ


(1, 0, 1)
and PR

 PR


(1, 1, 1),
PQ

 PR



3
PQ
.



110 N,
d


300 m, 
6, W
110

12. Since
F
300 cos 6
32819.
The work done is 32819 J.

13.

|d| = 3

3
The area of PQR is .
2

78.4 cos 70
70

8. Given a parallelepiped defined by a

(2, 5, 1)

20

b

(4, 0, 1)
c

(3, 1, 1).
Now b
 c

(1, 7, 4).

8 kg 78.4 N

W
78.4 3 cos 70

80.
The work done against gravity is approximately 80 J.

The volume of the parallelepiped is
a
 (b
 c
)

(2, 5, 1) (1, 7, 4)



2  35  4

14.

29.

20
12

 d


F



d

cos 
9. Work W
F
a.

W
220 15 cos 49

2165 J.

b.

W
4.3 2.6 cos 85

1.0 J.

c.

W
14 6 cos 110
29 J.

d.

F


4000 kN

4 106 N

d


5 km

5 103 m



d

cos 90
W

F

0 J.

 must have
10. To overcome friction, the applied force F
magnitude greater than 150 N. 
0, cos 
1.



d

cos 
Therefore W >
F
W > 150 1.5 1
W > 225.
The work done is greater than 225 J.



30 9.8
294 N.
11.
F



d

cos 
W

F

294 40 cos 52
7240.
The work done is 7240 J.

64

F
20

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

Consider the same force as a force acting at 20 to

the direction of motion. The work done dragging
the trunk up the ramp is 90(10) cos 20. The work
done dragging the trunk horizontally is 90(15) cos 20.
Total work done is 900 cos 20  1350 cos 20
2114 J.


2i
15. a. F

(2, 0)

 d

W
F
W
10.

d

5i  6j

(5, 6)


4i  j
b. F

d

3i  10j

(3, 10)


(800, 600)
c. F

d

(20, 50)


12i  5j  6k

d. F

d

2i  8j  4k

(2, 8, 4)

(4, 1)

 d

W
F

12  12
W
22.

 d

W
F

16000  30000
W
46000.

(12, 5, 6)

 d

W
F

24  40  24
W
88.

16. A 10 N force acts in the direction of a vector (1, 1).

 is
A unit vector along F


10
F

2 , 2  therefore

1

2 , 2 
(52, 52)

1


(7, 5).
the displacement vector is d

PQ




W
F d
352  252

602.
The work done is 602 N.

F


50 N

r

20 cm

0.2 m


30

T


r F


T



r F




sin 


r

F

0.2 50 sin 30

T


5
The torque on the bolt is 5 N.

17.




r

F


sin , maximum torque can be
b. Since
T

achieved when sin  is a maximum. This maximum



10
is 1 when 
90. Therefore
T



r

F

A(2, 1, 5)

B(3, 1, 2)

The 30 N force acts along a

(2, 1, 5)

a



41
 25
30


10 J.

 onto v
)
Proj(v
 onto u
) is a true statement
19. a. Proj(u
when

2

, 1, 5 .
30 30

 30


and the maximum torque that can be achieved is

i) u

v
 or

.
ii) u
 v
, in which case the projection vector is O


30
The force vector F


(230
F
, 30
, 530
)


(1, 2 3)
The displacement d

AB

 d

Therefore W
F

230
 230
  1530


1930
.

 onto v
)


Proj(v
 onto u
)
is a true

b.
Proj(u
statement when
i) u
 v
 in which case the projection has
magnitude 0.
ii) when
u



v

and the angle between u
 and v

is 45 or 135
iii) when u

v
 or u

v
.

The work done in moving the object from A to B is

1930
 J.
18. a.

30

Bolt

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

65

10. u
 has direction angles 1, 1, 1. A unit vector along u


Review Exercise

is u
(cos 1, cos 1, cos 1). Similarly a unit vector

along v
 is v
(cos 2, cos 2, cos 2). Since u
 v
,
u v and u v
0 therefore cos 1 cos 2  cos 1
cos 2  cos 1 2
0.

,
7. Given a

6i  3j  2k
a

(6, 3, 2)
b

2i  pj  4k,
b

(2, p, 4)
4
and cos 
,  is the angle between a
 and b
.
21

11.

x
  y

2
(x
  y
) (x
  y
)

x
 y
  2 x
 y
  y
 y



x

2  2 x
 y
 
y

2

Now a
 b


a


b

cos .

2x
 y


x
  y

2 
x

2 
y

2

Therefore
12  3p  8

4

36  9
 4 
4  p2
 16 
21


(2, 2, 0).
BC

 BC


0, AB

 BC

, and ABC
90
Since AB
therefore ABC is a right-angled triangle.

b. Since ABC has a right angle at B, the area of

1


ABC

AB


BC
.
2

44
p
4 or p
 .
65
44
We see that p
  does not satisfy and
65
p
4 does; therefore the only value for p is 4.
Let a

i  j  k
(1, 1, 1)
b

2i  2j  k
(2, 2, 1)
Since a
 b
, a
 b

0
therefore 2  2  1
0
(  1)2
0

1
If a
 b
 then
1.

9. If
x


3,
y


4 and the angle between x
 and y
 is

60 then
(4x
  y
) (2x
  3y
)
8
x

2  10 x
 y
  3
y

2

72  10
x


y

cos 60  48
1

24  10(3)(4) 
2
(4x
  y
) (2x
  3y
)
84.



66

12. Given ABC with vertices A(1, 3, 4), B(3, 1, 1),


(4, 4, 3), AC


(6, 2, 3), and
a. AB

Squaring both sides:

81p2  216p  144
16p2  320
65p2  216p  176
0
(p  4)(65p  44)
0

8.

and C(5, 1, 1).

4
3p  4
 7 
p2  20
21
9p  12
4 
p2  20

1
therefore x
 y


x
  x

2 
x

2 
y

2 .
2

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications




Now
AB
16  1
69

41






BC
44

22
1
ABC
 41
 22
2


82
the area of ABC is 82
.




c.
AC


36  4
9

7
The perimeter of ABC is AB  AC  BC


41  7  22 16.2.
d. Let the fourth vertex to complete the rectangle be

D(a, b, c)


BA

 and (a  5, b  1, c  1)
(4, 4, 3)
CD
equating components, a
1, b
5, c
4, and the
coordinates of the fourth vertex are (1, 5, 4).



(17, 3, 8).

13. Given the vector u
a. The projection of u
 onto each of the coordinate

area will be 17i, 3j and 8k.

b. The projection of u

(17, 3, 8) onto the xy

plane is (17, 3, 0), onto the xz plane is (17, 0, 8),

and onto the yz plane is (0, 3, 8).

14. Since the vertices lie in the xy plane, the coordinates

in R3 will be A(7, 3, 0), B(3, 1, 0), and C(2, 6, 0).


(10, 2, 0)
Now AB


(9, 9, 0)
AC

 AC


(0, 0, 72).
and AB

D will be the foot of the perpendicular from the

fourth vertex E to D. Let the coordinates of E be



63 , 12, a.



1
Now
OE
1
3
and     a 2
1
4
36
24
2
a2


36
3

2
a


3
the fourth vertex has coordinates

1


Area of ABC

AB
AC

2
1

 72
2

or









63 , 12, 36 

63 , 12, 36 .

The coordinates of the fourth vertices are

36.

O(0, 0, 0), A(0, 1, 0), B

The area of ABC is 36.

15. a. Consider the base of the tetrahedron as a triangle in

the xy-plane with O(0, 0, 0), A(0, 1, 0).

A(0, 1, 0)

O(0, 0, 0)





63 12, 0 and



63 , 12, 36 .

b. The x-component of the centroid will be

3 3
3
1
 0  0    

4
2
6
6

1
1
1
1
the y-component is  1    

4
2
2
2
B( 32 , 12 ,0)

6
6
1
the z-component is   
 .
4
3
12

The coordinates of the centroid are

Now OBC is a 30, 60, 90 triangle with OB
1

3
1
therefore OC
 and CB

2
2

3 1
hence the coordinates of B are ,, 0 .



63 ,12, 0.

The centroid of ABC is D





63 , 12,  126 .

c. The distance from each vertex to the centroid will


.
be the same, say
OG





OG





3  1  6

4
36
144
1
1    1
4
12
24
3

8

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

67

6

.
4
6
The centroid is  units from each vertex.
4

 is a vector that is perpendicular to all
16. a. a
 b

vectors in the plane of a
 and b
. Let n

a
 b
.
Now
n
 c
 is a vector perpendicular to both n
 and c
.

Since n
 c
 is perpendicular to n
, as are a
 and b
,

n
 c

(a
 b
) c
, a
 and b
 will be coplanar;
i.e., (a
 b
) c
 lies in the plane of a
 and b
.


(b , b , b ), and
b. Let a

(a1, a2, a3), b
1 2 3
c

(c1, c2, c3).

 AC

 is a vector perpendicular to the plane of
Since AB
ABC, the height of the tetrahedron will be the magnitude

 on (AB

 AC

)
of the projection of AD

 (A


AD
B A

C )

therefore h
 .




A
B AC

 (A


AD
1
1


B A

C )

The volume V
 
AB
AC
 





3
2

AB AC

1



V

AD
(AB AC )
.
6

 AC


(19, 26, 42), AD


(2, 4, 6)
Now AB
where D is the fourth vertex, D (1, 5, 8)

 (AB

 AC

)
38  104  252
AD

394
1
V
 294
6

Now
a
 b

(a2b3  a3b2, b1a3  a1b3, a1b2  a2 b1)
and LS
(a
 b
) c


(c3b1a3  c3a1b3  c2a1b2  c2a2b1,
c1a1b2  c1b1a2  c3a2b3  c3b2a3,
c2a2b3  c2a3b2  c1b1a3  c1a1b3)
a
 c

a1c1  a2c2  a3c3
(a
 c
)b
[(a1c1  a2c2  a3c3)b1,
(a1c1  a2c2  a3c3)b2,
(a1c1  a2c2  a3c3)b3]
and (b
 c
)a

[(b1c1  b2c2  b3c3)a1,
(b1c1  b2c2  b3c3)a2,
(b1c1  b2c2  b3c3)a3]
RS
(a
 c
)b
  (b
 c
)a


(a2c2b1  a3c3b1  b2c2a1  b3c3a1, a1c1b2
 a3c3b2  b1c1a2  b3c3a2, a1c1b3  a2c2b3
 b1c1a3  b2c2a3).
Since LS
RS, (a
 b
) c

(a
 c
)b
  (b
 c
)a
.
17. The volume of a tetrahedron is given by the formula

1
1
v
(area of the base)(height)
 Ah.
3
3
Consider the base to be the triangle with vertices
A(1, 1, 2), B(3, 4, 6), C(7, 0, 1)


(2, 5, 4) and AC


(8, 1, 3)
now AB
1




AC
.
the area of the base will be A

AB
2
68

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

197


3
197
The volume of the tetrahedron is .
3

Chapter 5 Test
1. a. If u
 v

0 then u
 is perpendicular to v
.
b. If u
 v


u


v

then cos 
1, 
0 and u
 and v


will have the same direction, i.e., u

kv
, k > 0.

c. If u
 v



0 then u
 and v
 are collinear,

i.e., u

kv
, k > R.

d. If
u
 v



u


v

then sin 
1, 
90 and

u
 v
.

e. If (u
 v
) u

0, no conclusion can be made about u


and v
 since u
 v
 is perpendicular to both u
 and v
 and
the dot product of perpendicular vectors is zero.

f. If (u
 v
) u




0 then u
 v
 and u
 are collinear. But

u
 v
 is perpendicular to both u
 and v
. This

is true only if u
 v

0 in which case u
 and v


are collinear.


(6, 3, 2)
2. Given u

6i  3j  2k

4. a.

v

3i  4j  k
(3, 4, 1)

C
B

a. 4u
  3 v

(24, 12, 8)  (9, 12, 3)

(33, 0, 5)
.

33i  5k
b.

c.

d.

u
 v

(6, 3, 2) (3, 4, 1)

18  12  2

4.

D
A

ABCD is a parallelogram with coordinates

A(1, 2, 1), B(2, 1, 3), C(p, q, r),
D(3, 1, 3).


DC


Now AB
therefore (3, 3, 4)
(p  3, q  1, r  3) and
p
0, q
2, r
1 and the coordinates of C are
(0, 2, 1).

u
 v

(5, 12, 33)

5i  12j  33k.

u
 v



25  1
44  1089


1258
.

A unit vector perpendicular to both u
 and v
 is

b. To determine the angle at A we use the dot product

5
12

, 
, 33 .

1258 
1258 
1258

3. a.

 AD



AB



AD


cos A
AB


AB
(3, 3, 4)





AB
99
 16

z
A

34


P(3, 2, 5)


(2, 1, 2)

AD





AD
41
4
O

3

 AD


6  3  8
AB

11
11
cos A

334


 is the position vector of point P(3, 2, 5)

i) OP

 onto the z-axis is

ii) the projection of OP


(0, 0, 5)
OA

 onto the xy plane is
iii) the projection of OP


(3, 2, 0).
OB



5
b.
OA





OB
9  4
13
.

A 129
The angle at A is approximately 129.

 AD



c. The area of parallelogram ABCD

AB

 AD


(10, 2, 9)
AB

 AD





AB
100 
4  81


185
The area of parallelogram ABCD is 185.


Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

69

5.

c.

30
35

 acting at a direction of 35 to the horizontal

A force F



75 N moves a box a distance
has magnitude
F

d


16 m.
The work done is



d

cos 
W

F

1
Since sin 30
 a force applied at an angle of
2
30 will produce half the maximum torque

T



r

F

sin 30

75 16 cos 35.

1

0.18 50 
2

T


4.5 J.

F
15

20

20

The same force acting at 35 to the horizontal has a



75 N and acts at an angle of 15
magnitude of
F

to the line of motion where
d


8 m.

The work done is W
75 8 cos 15.
Total work done is
75 16 cos 35  75 8 cos 15
1562.5 J.
6.

7.


a
  b

Diagonal AC


a
  b
.
and BD

 and BD

 be .
Let the angle between AC

BD



AC



BD


cos 
Now AC

 BD


(a
  b
) (a
  b
)
AC


a

2 
b

2






AC
a

2 

b

2






BD
a

2 

b

2

a. The force should act at right angles to the wrench

to produce maximum torque.


r F


b. T

T



r F



r

F

sin .

If 
90, maximum torque is

T


0.18 50
9 J.

 is perpendicular to the plane
The direction of T

 so that r, F

, and r F

 form a rightof r and F
handed system.

70

Chapter 5: Algebraic Vectors and Applications

therefore
a

2 
b

2


2 cos 


a

2 

b

2 

a

2 
b

a

2 
b

2
(
a

2 
b

2) cos 

a

2 
b

2

and cos 

 2 
.

a

b

2

a

2 
b

2
 for
a

2 >
b

2.
For 0 <  < 90, cos 


a

2 
b

2