Vector equation of a line

Questions asking to find or write down the vector equation of a line passing through given points or with a given direction.

4 questions · Standard +0.0

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OCR MEI C4 2007 January Q8
16 marks Standard +0.3
8 A pipeline is to be drilled under a river (see Fig. 8). With respect to axes Oxyz, with the \(x\)-axis pointing East, the \(y\)-axis North and the \(z\)-axis vertical, the pipeline is to consist of a straight section AB from the point \(\mathrm { A } ( 0 , - 40,0 )\) to the point \(\mathrm { B } ( 40,0 , - 20 )\) directly under the river, and another straight section BC . All lengths are in metres. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{5dcd4f44-4c61-4384-be1b-a8d63cb6b5aa-5_744_1068_495_500} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 8}
\end{figure}
  1. Calculate the distance AB . The section BC is to be drilled in the direction of the vector \(3 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k }\).
  2. Find the angle ABC between the sections AB and BC . The section BC reaches ground level at the point \(\mathrm { C } ( a , b , 0 )\).
  3. Write down a vector equation of the line BC . Hence find \(a\) and \(b\).
  4. Show that the vector \(6 \mathbf { i } - 5 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k }\) is perpendicular to the plane ABC . Hence find the cartesian equation of this plane.
OCR MEI C4 Q2
4 marks Moderate -0.3
2 Find where the line \(\mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 2 \\ 0 \end{array} \right) + \lambda \left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 3 \\ 2 \end{array} \right)\) meets the plane \(2 x + 3 y - 4 z - 5 = 0\).
OCR C4 Q7
9 marks Standard +0.3
  1. A straight road passes through villages at the points \(A\) and \(B\) with position vectors \(( 9 \mathbf { i } - 8 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k } )\) and ( \(4 \mathbf { j } + \mathbf { k }\) ) respectively, relative to a fixed origin.
The road ends at a junction at the point \(C\) with another straight road which lies along the line with equation $$\mathbf { r } = ( 2 \mathbf { i } + 16 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } ) + t ( - 5 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } ) ,$$ where \(t\) is a scalar parameter.
  1. Find the position vector of \(C\). Given that 1 unit on each coordinate axis represents 200 metres,
  2. find the distance, in kilometres, from the village at \(A\) to the junction at \(C\).
OCR C4 2012 January Q2
7 marks Moderate -0.3
2
  1. Find, in the form \(\mathbf { r } = \mathbf { a } + t \mathbf { b }\), an equation of the line \(l\) through the points ( \(4,2,7\) ) and ( \(5 , - 4 , - 1\) ).
  2. Find the acute angle between the line \(l\) and a line in the direction of the vector \(\left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 2 \\ 3 \end{array} \right)\).