Edexcel C4 — Question 9

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleC4 (Core Mathematics 4)
TopicVectors 3D & Lines

9. The equations of the lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) are given by $$\begin{array} { l l } l _ { 1 } : & \mathbf { r } = \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } + 5 \mathbf { k } + \lambda ( \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } ) ,
l _ { 2 } : & \mathbf { r } = - 2 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } - 4 \mathbf { k } + \mu ( 2 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } + 4 \mathbf { k } ) , \end{array}$$ where \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are parameters.
  1. Show that \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) intersect and find the coordinates of \(Q\), their point of intersection.
  2. Show that \(l _ { 1 }\) is perpendicular to \(l _ { 2 }\). The point \(P\) with \(x\)-coordinate 3 lies on the line \(l _ { 1 }\) and the point \(R\) with \(x\)-coordinate 4 lies on the line \(l _ { 2 }\).
  3. Find, in its simplest form, the exact area of the triangle \(P Q R\). END