GCSE Vectors 4. Write each vector in terms of a and/or b .

a) Write an expression for ⃗

SQ in terms of a , b .
b) Express ⃗
NR in terms of a and b .
Exercise 1 (Basic Addition/Subtraction)
Test Your Understanding
1. State the value of each vector.

a. ⃗
ZX
b. ⃗
YW
c. ⃗
XY
d. ⃗
XZ
5. ABCDEF is a regular hexagon with centre
O. ⃗
FA =a and ⃗
FB=b.
a) Find ⃗AB in terms of a and b .
b) P is a point on AB such that AP: PB=3 :1.
Find ⃗
OP in terms of a and b , giving your
answer in its simplest form.
2. Write each vector in terms of a and/or b .
Further Examples
A) Determine ⃗
AX

Express in terms of a and/or b :

a. ⃗
AB b. ⃗ FO c. ⃗ AO d. ⃗FD

BA b. ⃗
a. ⃗ DB d. ⃗
AC c. ⃗ AD Lesson 2 Examples

3. Write each vector in terms of a and/or b .

B) Determine ⃗
OY
a

PQRS is a parallelogram. N is on SQ such that

SN : NQ=3 :2.
a. ⃗
MK b. ⃗
NL c. ⃗
NK d. ⃗
KN

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 1 y and z .
Show that ⃗
OP= ( 2a+ 3 b )
5

Exercise 2 (Using Ratios)

1. In the following diagram ⃗

OA =a and ⃗OB =b.
X is a point such that AX : XB=1: 4
DC b. ⃗
a. ⃗ DM c. ⃗ AM d. ⃗BM
4. [Nov 2010 1H Q27] M is the midpoint of OP . ⃗ ⃗
e. BP f. AP
7. OACB is a parallelogram. M is the midpoint of
AB. X is a point such that BX : XC =1 :2.
Wh Determine:

at is:
a. ⃗
AB b. ⃗
AX c. ⃗
OX d. ⃗
BX
2. Again ⃗
OA =a and ⃗
OB =b. Y is a point such a) Express ⃗
OM in terms of a and b .
that YB=2 AY b) Express ⃗
TM in terms of a and b giving your
answer in its simplest form. a. ⃗ BC c. ⃗
AB b. ⃗ MB d. ⃗
MX
XA f. ⃗
e. ⃗ CM g. ⃗ XO
5. OACB is a parallelogram. R is a point such
8. M is the midpoint of BC .
that AR : RB =2: 3 . S is a point such that
Wh BS :SC =1 :3. Determine:
at is:
a. ⃗ AY c. ⃗
OY d. ⃗
YO

3. [June 2009 2H Q23]

Determine the vectors:
a) Find ⃗
AB in terms of a and b . a. ¿⃗ b. ⃗
BS c. ⃗
OS d. ⃗RS a. ⃗ BC c. ⃗
OB b. ⃗ AM d. ⃗
OM
b) P is on AB such that AP : PB=3 :2 . 6. In the diagram, M is the midpoint of CD ,
BP: PM =2 :1, ⃗ AB=x , and ⃗
AC= y and 9. In the following diagram, X is a point such that
⃗
AD= z. Express each of (a) to (f) in terms of x , OX : XB=1: 3.

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 a. ⃗
OC b. ⃗
XC c. ⃗
AX X is a point on AB such that AX : XB =3 :1. M is
the midpoint of BC . Show that ⃗
XM is parallel to
⃗
OC .
⃗
AN =2b , ⃗
NP=b
Lesson 3 Examples Test Your Understanding [June 2011 Q26]
B is the midpoint of AC . M is the midpoint of PB .
Example 1: March 2013 1H Q26
a) Find ⃗
PB in terms of a and b .
b) Show that NMC is a straight line.

Test Your Understanding [Nov 2013 1H Q24]

a. Find ⃗AB in terms of a and b .
b. P is the point on AB such that
AP : PB=2 :3 . Show that ⃗OP is parallel to
the vector a+ b.

Example 3: [November 2012 1H Q28]

⃗
OA =a and ⃗
OB =b. D is the point such that
⃗
AC=⃗CD . The point N divides AB in the ratio 2 :1
a) Express ⃗AB in terms of a and b .
.
b) X is a point on AB such that
2 (a) Write an expression for ⃗
ON in terms of a and b
AX : XB=1:2 . Prove that ⃗
OX= ⃗OY .
5 .
Example 2:
(b) Prove that OND is a straight line.

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 2. [June 2014 1H Q24] iii) X is the point on FM such that such that
FX : XM =4 :1. Prove that C , X and E lie
on the same straight line.

5.

M is the midpoint of OA . N is the midpoint of

OB . Prove that AB is parallel to OB .

3. [November 2015 2H Q20]

OABC is a parallelogram. P is the point on AC

2
such that AP= AC .
3
i) Find the vector ⃗
OP . Give your answer in terms of
a and c .
ACEF is a parallelogram. B is the midpoint of ii) Given that the midpoint of CB is M , prove that
Exercise 3 (Proofs) AC . M is the midpoint of BE . Show that OPM is a straight line.
AMD is a straight line.
1. [Nov 2016 2H Q23] 6. ⃗
OA =3 a and ⃗
AQ=a and ⃗
OB =b and
4. ⃗ 1
BC = b. M is the midpoint of QB . Prove that
2
AMC is a straight line.

⃗ DE=b and ⃗
CD=a, ⃗ FC =a−b
T is the point on AB such that AT :TB=5:1 .
Show that OT is parallel to the vector a+ 2b .
i) Express ⃗
CE in terms of a and b .
ii) Prove that ⃗
FE is parallel to ⃗
CD.

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