MEI Vectors and 3-D space

Topic assessment
1. In this question you must show detailed reasoning.
2  6
(a) Show that the vectors   and   are perpendicular. [2]
 −3   4
 2 1
1  
(b) Find the angle between the vectors   and  −2  . [3]
 4 3
   

2. The points A, B and C have coordinates (2, -1), (3, 2) and (-4, 0) respectively.
Show that ABC is 55.6° correct to 1 decimal place. [5]

 x  3
   
3. The angle between two vectors a =  −12  and b =  y  is θ .
 3   −2 
   
Given that a = 13 and a.b = 18 , find the value(s) of θ . [7]

4. The points A, B and C have coordinates (2, -1, 3), (4, -2, 0) and (1, -5, 0) respectively.
1 1
   
(a) Work out AB.  −1 and BC.  −1 . [3]
1 1
   
(b) Find the Cartesian equation of the plane ABC. [3]

5. A mobile phone mast, BM, is on the side of a hill. The mast is supported by a
guy rope AM which is perpendicular to the hillside.

A
B
M
M C
The hillside is modelled as a plane and the mobile phone mast, BM, and
guy rope, AM, are modelled as straight lines.
Relative to a fixed origin, the top of the mast has coordinates M(180, -75, 20)
and the guy rope is fixed to ground at A (176, -80, 2). All units are in metres.
An engineer walks in a straight line from the point C (s, 55, -5) to the
base of mast, B(180, -75, t).

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 MEI Vectors Assessment

Calculate the distance that the engineer walks.

Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place. [7]

6. A plane has equation 2 x − 2 y + z = 5 .

(a) Write down a vector normal to the plane. [1]
(b) Another plane has equation px + 7 z = 3 . The angle between the two planes is
60°. Find, in exact form, the possible values of p. [8]

7. In this question you must show detailed reasoning.

Three planes have equations
1 3x − 2 y − 4 z = 5
2 2x − y = 3
3 x + y + 12 z = 1
(a) Show that the planes form a triangular prism. [3]
(b) Find the angle between the planes  1 and  2 . [4]

Total 46 marks

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