Edexcel AEA 2018 June — Question 3 10 marks

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleAEA (Advanced Extension Award)
Year2018
SessionJune
Marks10
PaperDownload PDF ↗
TopicVectors: Lines & Planes
TypeAngle between two lines
DifficultyChallenging +1.2 Part (a) is a standard application of the dot product formula for angles between lines, requiring solving a quadratic equation. Part (b) involves finding an intersection point and using rhombus properties (equal sides, parallel opposite sides), which requires systematic vector manipulation but follows predictable steps. While this is from AEA, it's a relatively straightforward multi-part question testing standard vector techniques without requiring significant geometric insight or novel problem-solving approaches.
Spec1.10f Distance between points: using position vectors1.10g Problem solving with vectors: in geometry4.04a Line equations: 2D and 3D, cartesian and vector forms4.04c Scalar product: calculate and use for angles

3.The lines \(L _ { 1 }\) and \(L _ { 2 }\) have the equations $$L _ { 1 } : \mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 0 \\ 9 \end{array} \right) + s \left( \begin{array} { l } 2 \\ p \\ 6 \end{array} \right) \quad \text { and } \quad L _ { 2 } : \mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { r } - 15 \\ 12 \\ - 9 \end{array} \right) + t \left( \begin{array} { r } 4 \\ - 5 \\ 2 \end{array} \right)$$ where \(p\) is a constant.
The acute angle between \(L _ { 1 }\) and \(L _ { 2 }\) is \(\theta\) where \(\cos \theta = \frac { \sqrt { 5 } } { 3 }\)
  1. Find the value of \(p\) . The line \(L _ { 3 }\) has equation \(\mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { r } - 15 \\ 12 \\ - 9 \end{array} \right) + u \left( \begin{array} { r } 8 \\ - 6 \\ - 5 \end{array} \right)\) and the lines \(L _ { 3 }\) and \(L _ { 2 }\) intersect at the point \(A\) .
    The point \(B\) on \(L _ { 2 }\) has position vector \(\left( \begin{array} { r } 5 \\ - 13 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)\) and point \(C\) lies on \(L _ { 3 }\) such that \(A B D C\) is a rhombus.
  2. Find the two possible position vectors of \(D\) .

3.The lines $L _ { 1 }$ and $L _ { 2 }$ have the equations

$$L _ { 1 } : \mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 
1 \\
0 \\
9
\end{array} \right) + s \left( \begin{array} { l } 
2 \\
p \\
6
\end{array} \right) \quad \text { and } \quad L _ { 2 } : \mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { r } 
- 15 \\
12 \\
- 9
\end{array} \right) + t \left( \begin{array} { r } 
4 \\
- 5 \\
2
\end{array} \right)$$

where $p$ is a constant.\\
The acute angle between $L _ { 1 }$ and $L _ { 2 }$ is $\theta$ where $\cos \theta = \frac { \sqrt { 5 } } { 3 }$
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Find the value of $p$ .

The line $L _ { 3 }$ has equation $\mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { r } - 15 \\ 12 \\ - 9 \end{array} \right) + u \left( \begin{array} { r } 8 \\ - 6 \\ - 5 \end{array} \right)$ and the lines $L _ { 3 }$ and $L _ { 2 }$ intersect at the point $A$ .\\
The point $B$ on $L _ { 2 }$ has position vector $\left( \begin{array} { r } 5 \\ - 13 \\ 1 \end{array} \right)$ and point $C$ lies on $L _ { 3 }$ such that $A B D C$ is a rhombus.
\item Find the two possible position vectors of $D$ .
\end{enumerate}

\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel AEA 2018 Q3 [10]}}