Vector operations and magnitudes

Questions asking to find unit vectors, magnitudes of vectors, or perform basic vector arithmetic (addition, subtraction, scalar multiplication) with position vectors.

7 questions · Moderate -0.1

1.10c Magnitude and direction: of vectors
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CAIE P1 2004 June Q9
10 marks Moderate -0.8
9 Relative to an origin \(O\), the position vectors of the points \(A , B , C\) and \(D\) are given by $$\overrightarrow { O A } = \left( \begin{array} { r } 1 \\ 3 \\ - 1 \end{array} \right) , \quad \overrightarrow { O B } = \left( \begin{array} { r } 3 \\ - 1 \\ 3 \end{array} \right) , \quad \overrightarrow { O C } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 4 \\ 2 \\ p \end{array} \right) \quad \text { and } \quad \overrightarrow { O D } = \left( \begin{array} { r } - 1 \\ 0 \\ q \end{array} \right) ,$$ where \(p\) and \(q\) are constants. Find
  1. the unit vector in the direction of \(\overrightarrow { A B }\),
  2. the value of \(p\) for which angle \(A O C = 90 ^ { \circ }\),
  3. the values of \(q\) for which the length of \(\overrightarrow { A D }\) is 7 units.
CAIE P1 2009 June Q6
7 marks Moderate -0.3
6 Relative to an origin \(O\), the position vectors of the points \(A\) and \(B\) are given by $$\overrightarrow { O A } = 2 \mathbf { i } - 8 \mathbf { j } + 4 \mathbf { k } \quad \text { and } \quad \overrightarrow { O B } = 7 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k }$$
  1. Find the value of \(\overrightarrow { O A } \cdot \overrightarrow { O B }\) and hence state whether angle \(A O B\) is acute, obtuse or a right angle.
  2. The point \(X\) is such that \(\overrightarrow { A X } = \frac { 2 } { 5 } \overrightarrow { A B }\). Find the unit vector in the direction of \(O X\).
CAIE P1 2010 June Q10
11 marks Standard +0.3
10 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{56d4d40a-32f5-4f2d-938e-a24312cd42e7-4_552_629_842_758} The diagram shows the parallelogram \(O A B C\). Given that \(\overrightarrow { O A } = \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k }\) and \(\overrightarrow { O C } = 3 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k }\), find
  1. the unit vector in the direction of \(\overrightarrow { O B }\),
  2. the acute angle between the diagonals of the parallelogram,
  3. the perimeter of the parallelogram, correct to 1 decimal place.
CAIE P1 2015 June Q5
7 marks Standard +0.3
5 Relative to an origin \(O\), the position vectors of the points \(A , B\) and \(C\) are given by $$\overrightarrow { O A } = \left( \begin{array} { r } 3 \\ 2 \\ - 3 \end{array} \right) , \quad \overrightarrow { O B } = \left( \begin{array} { r } 5 \\ - 1 \\ - 2 \end{array} \right) \quad \text { and } \quad \overrightarrow { O C } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 6 \\ 1 \\ 2 \end{array} \right)$$
  1. Show that angle \(A B C\) is \(90 ^ { \circ }\).
  2. Find the area of triangle \(A B C\), giving your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
CAIE P1 2016 June Q3
4 marks Moderate -0.8
3 Relative to an origin \(O\), the position vectors of points \(A\) and \(B\) are given by $$\overrightarrow { O A } = 2 \mathbf { i } - 5 \mathbf { j } - 2 \mathbf { k } \quad \text { and } \quad \overrightarrow { O B } = 4 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k }$$ The point \(C\) is such that \(\overrightarrow { A B } = \overrightarrow { B C }\). Find the unit vector in the direction of \(\overrightarrow { O C }\).
CAIE P1 2019 November Q10
9 marks Standard +0.3
10 Relative to an origin \(O\), the position vectors of the points \(A , B\) and \(X\) are given by $$\overrightarrow { O A } = \left( \begin{array} { r } - 8 \\ - 4 \\ 2 \end{array} \right) , \quad \overrightarrow { O B } = \left( \begin{array} { r } 10 \\ 2 \\ 11 \end{array} \right) \quad \text { and } \quad \overrightarrow { O X } = \left( \begin{array} { r } - 2 \\ - 2 \\ 5 \end{array} \right)$$
  1. Find \(\overrightarrow { A X }\) and show that \(A X B\) is a straight line. \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) The position vector of a point \(C\) is given by \(\overrightarrow { O C } = \left( \begin{array} { r } 1 \\ - 8 \\ 3 \end{array} \right)\).
  2. Show that \(C X\) is perpendicular to \(A X\). \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\)
  3. Find the area of triangle \(A B C\). \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{17e813c6-890f-4198-b20a-557b133e8c34-18_949_1087_260_529} The diagram shows part of the curve \(y = ( x - 1 ) ^ { - 2 } + 2\), and the lines \(x = 1\) and \(x = 3\). The point \(A\) on the curve has coordinates \(( 2,3 )\). The normal to the curve at \(A\) crosses the line \(x = 1\) at \(B\).
  4. Show that the normal \(A B\) has equation \(y = \frac { 1 } { 2 } x + 2\). \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\)
  5. Find, showing all necessary working, the volume of revolution obtained when the shaded region is rotated through \(360 ^ { \circ }\) about the \(x\)-axis. \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\) \(\_\_\_\_\)
Edexcel P4 2022 January Q6
6 marks Standard +0.3
6. Use integration by parts to show that $$\int \mathrm { e } ^ { 2 x } \cos 3 x \mathrm {~d} x = p \mathrm { e } ^ { 2 x } \sin 3 x + q \mathrm { e } ^ { 2 x } \cos 3 x + k$$ where \(p\) and \(q\) are rational numbers to be found and \(k\) is an arbitrary constant.
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