Area of triangle after finding foot of perpendicular or intersection

Finding the area of a triangle where one vertex is a foot of perpendicular or intersection point that must first be computed, making the area calculation a follow-on step.

3 questions · Standard +0.8

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OCR C4 Q8
13 marks Standard +0.8
8. The line \(l _ { 1 }\) passes through the points \(A\) and \(B\) with position vectors \(( - 3 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k } )\) and ( \(7 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + 12 \mathbf { k }\) ) respectively, relative to a fixed origin.
  1. Find a vector equation for \(l _ { 1 }\). The line \(l _ { 2 }\) has the equation $$\mathbf { r } = ( 5 \mathbf { j } - 7 \mathbf { k } ) + \mu ( \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } + 7 \mathbf { k } )$$ The point \(C\) lies on \(l _ { 2 }\) and is such that \(A C\) is perpendicular to \(B C\).
  2. Show that one possible position vector for \(C\) is \(( \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } )\) and find the other. Assuming that \(C\) has position vector \(( \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } )\),
  3. find the area of triangle \(A B C\), giving your answer in the form \(k \sqrt { 5 }\).
Edexcel C34 2016 June Q11
12 marks Standard +0.3
11. With respect to a fixed origin \(O\), the lines \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) are given by the equations $$\begin{aligned} & l _ { 1 } : \mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { l } 7 \\ 4 \\ 9 \end{array} \right) + \lambda \left( \begin{array} { l } 1 \\ 1 \\ 4 \end{array} \right) \\ & l _ { 2 } : \mathbf { r } = \left( \begin{array} { r } - 6 \\ - 7 \\ 3 \end{array} \right) + \mu \left( \begin{array} { l } 5 \\ 4 \\ b \end{array} \right) \end{aligned}$$ where \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are scalar parameters and \(b\) is a constant.
Given that \(l _ { 1 }\) and \(l _ { 2 }\) meet at the point \(X\),
  1. show that \(b = - 3\) and find the coordinates of \(X\). The point \(A\) lies on \(l _ { 1 }\) and has coordinates (6, 3, 5)
    The point \(B\) lies on \(l _ { 2 }\) and has coordinates \(( 14,9 , - 9 )\)
  2. Show that angle \(A X B = \arccos \left( - \frac { 1 } { 10 } \right)\)
  3. Using the result obtained in part (b), find the exact area of triangle \(A X B\). Write your answer in the form \(p \sqrt { q }\) where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers to be determined.
Edexcel C4 Q8
13 marks Challenging +1.2
8. The line \(l _ { 1 }\) passes through the points \(A\) and \(B\) with position vectors \(( - 3 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k } )\) and ( \(7 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + 12 \mathbf { k }\) ) respectively, relative to a fixed origin.
  1. Find a vector equation for \(l _ { 1 }\). The line \(l _ { 2 }\) has the equation $$\mathbf { r } = ( 5 \mathbf { j } - 7 \mathbf { k } ) + \mu ( \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } + 7 \mathbf { k } )$$ The point \(C\) lies on \(l _ { 2 }\) and is such that \(A C\) is perpendicular to \(B C\).
  2. Show that one possible position vector for \(C\) is \(( \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } )\) and find the other. Assuming that \(C\) has position vector \(( \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } )\),
  3. find the area of triangle \(A B C\), giving your answer in the form \(k \sqrt { 5 }\).
    8. continued
    8. continued