1.

In the diagram at the right, OA and OB represent vectors, B

3a and 4b respectively, C, E and F are points such that 3
3 2 C
OC  OB, AE  AB and OF  OA. Express OE E
4 5 
in terms of a and b. Given that C, E and F are collinear, 
D 2
CE 
deduce the value of  and of . If D is the midpoint  F
CF A
of AC, determine whether ODE is a straight line. O
Solution:
AB  OB  OA  4b  3a
3 3
OC  OB   4b   3b
4 4
2 AE 2
AE  AB  
5 AB 5
then, AE : EB  2: 3
2  4b   3  3a  9 8
so that, OE   a b
23 5 5
9 8
CE  OE  OC  a  b  3b
5 5
9 7
 a b
5 5
CF  OF  OC  OA  3b
 3a  3b
C, E and F are collinear  CE  kCF , where k is a scalar
9 7
a  b  3 ka  3kb
5 5
9 7
we have 3 k  and 3k  
5 5
7 3 3 15 9
k and    
15 5k 5 7 7
7 7
k  CE  CF
15 15
CE 7
hence, 
CF 15
1

OD  OA  OC (D is the midpoint of AC)
2
3
 a  b
2
9 8 1
OE  a  b   9a  8b 
5 5 5
Since OD is not parallel to OE , ODE is not a straight line.