Exercise Sheet 06

Engineering Mathematics : Exercise Sheet 6
J. J. Bissell, Semester I, 2023-2024
Comments
This exercise focuses on vectors, vector algebra, and vector geometry.
Exercise 6.1 Let a be a vector with arbitrary magnitude and direction. Draw
a diagram to depict the vectors a, 13 a, −a, and − 32 a relative to each other.
Exercise 6.2 Draw a sketch to illustrate the associative property of vector

addition, i.e., a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c.
Exercise 6.3 Let A, B, and P be points with position vectors a, b, and p

respectively, where P is a point that divides the line segment AB in the ratio
λ : (1 − λ), with λ ∈ (0, 1) a scalar. Express p in terms of a, b, and λ.
Exercise 6.4 Let a = ax i+ay j+az k be an arbitrary three-dimensional vector.

Sketch a relative to the Cartesian {i, j, k} basis, and hence use Pythagoras’s
p
theorem to show that |a| = a2x + a2y + a2z .
Exercise 6.5 Two particles have velocities v1 = 7i+j+4k and v2 = 5i−j+3k

respectively. Determine: (a) the velocity u of the first particle relative to the
second; and (b) the relative speed |u| of the two particles.
Exercise 6.6 By writing a, b, and c in terms of the Cartesian basis vectors,

demonstrate that a · (b + c) = a · b + a · c.
Exercise 6.7 Consider the vectors defined by a = (1, 2, 1) and b = (−2, −1, 1).
(a) Calculate the scalar product a · b.
(b) Calculate the magnitude of both vectors a and b.
(c) Find the angle θ between a and b.
(d) Express b as the sum of two vectors: one which is parallel to a (say bk );
and one which is perpendicular to a (say b⊥ ).
Exercise 6.8 Let a = 4i − 1j + 2k and b = 2i + 4j − 2k; evaluate the vector

product a × b, and b × a explicitly using component form.
1
Exercise 6.9 Let θ ∈ [0, π] be the angle between the vectors a = −3i − j + k
and b = i + 2j + k. Determine the values of cos θ and sin θ.
Exercise 6.10 Show that if a = b+λc, with λ as a scalar, then a×c = b×c.
Exercise 6.11 By writing arbitrary vectors a, b, and c in terms of the Carte-

sian basis vectors, i.e., a = ax i + ay j + az k, b = bx i + by j + bz k, and
c = cx i + cy j + cz k, demonstrate that (a + b) × c = (a × c) + (b × c).
Exercise 6.12 One of the vertices of a parallelogram is located at the origin

O = (0, 0, 0), two other vertices have position vectors a = (1, 2, 0), and
c = (1, −4, 2), where c is the vertex opposite O. Determine: (a) the position
vector b of the other vertex; and (b) the area Ap of the parallelogram.
Exercise 6.13 Find a unit normal n̂ to a = i − 2j + k and b = 2i + j − 3k.
Exercise 6.14 The vector equation for a line running parallel to the vector
b = (bx , by , bz ), and which passes through a point a = (ax , ay , az ) is
r = a + λb, where λ ∈ R
is a scalar, and r = xi + yj + zk is an arbitrary point on the line.
(a) By comparing coefficients, show that the Cartesian equation for the line is
x − ax y − ay z − az
= = = λ.
bx by bz
(b) Sketch the geometry of the line, including labels either side of the point a
indicating which portions correspond to λ > 0, and which to λ < 0.
(c) Determine the Cartesian equation for the line passing through the point
a = (1, 4, −1), that runs parallel to the vector b = (−1, 2, 3).
Exercise 6.15 Find a unit vector n̂ perpendicular to the vectors a = (−1, 0, 2)

and b = (3, 0, 4). Hence find the Cartesian equation for the plane parallel to the
vectors a and b, and which contains a point with position vector p = (1, 4, 3).
√
Exercise 6.16 Find the equation of the plane with normal n = (2, −2, 2)
√
and containing the point a = (4, −6, −2 2). Hence determine: (a) the dis-
tance of the plane from the origin; (b) the equation for the plane; and (c) the
√
distance of the plane from the point with position vector p = (1, −8, 2 2).
2
Exercise 6.17 Let n1 = (i + j) and n2 = (j − k) be the normal vectors
to the planes P1 , and P2 respectively, and let both planes contain the point
a = (0, 2, 0). Determine: (a) the angle θ between the two planes; (b) the
Cartesian equation for each plane; and (c) the planes’ line of intersection.
Exercise 6.18 Show that the vectors a = (1, −1, 2), b = (−1, 12 , 2) and
c = (−5, 3, 6) are coplanar, and express a as a linear combination of b and c.
Exercise 6.19 By writing the vectors a, b, and c in component form verify

Lagrange’s formula a × (b × c) = b(a · c) − c(a · b).
Exercise 6.20 Show that (a × b) × (c × d) = c[(a × b) · d] − d[(a × b) · c]

without writing the vectors a, b, c, and d in component form.
Exercise 6.21 (optional) The two sets of vectors {a, b, c} and {a0 , b0 , c0 }
are said to be reciprocal sets provided
a · a0 = b · b0 = c · c0 = 1,
and a · b0 = a0 · b = b · c0 = b0 · c = c · a0 = c0 · a = 0.
(a) The reciprocal vectors of three linearly independent vectors a, b, and c are
b×c c×a a×b

a0 = , b0 = , and c0 = .
a · (b × c) a · (b × c) a · (b × c)
Show that {a, b, c} and {a0 , b0 , c0 } are reciprocal sets.

[Hint: The scalar triple product satisfies a · (b × c) = b · (c × a) = c · (a × b).]
(b) Let V = a · (b × c). Show that
a0 · (b0 × c0 ) = V −1 ,
and thence verify the relationships
b0 × c0 c0 × a0 a0 × b0
a= , b= , and c= .
a0 · (b0 × c)0 a0 · (b0 × c)0 a0 · (b0 × c0 )
[Hint: It may be shown that (a × b) × (c × d) = c[(a × b) · d] − d[(a × b) · c].]
Exercise 6.22 Prove Lagrange’s identity
(a × b) · (c × d) = (a · c)(b · d) − (a · d)(b · c)
without writing the vectors a, b, c, and d in component form.

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Engineering Mathematics : Exercise Sheet 6

J. J. Bissell, Semester I, 2023-2024

This exercise focuses on vectors, vector algebra, and vector geometry.

Exercise 6.2 Draw a sketch to illustrate the associative property of vector

Exercise 6.3 Let A, B, and P be points with position vectors a, b, and p

Exercise 6.4 Let a = ax i+ay j+az k be an arbitrary three-dimensional vector.

Exercise 6.5 Two particles have velocities v1 = 7i+j+4k and v2 = 5i−j+3k

Exercise 6.6 By writing a, b, and c in terms of the Cartesian basis vectors,

(a) Calculate the scalar product a · b.

(b) Calculate the magnitude of both vectors a and b.

(c) Find the angle θ between a and b.

Exercise 6.8 Let a = 4i − 1j + 2k and b = 2i + 4j − 2k; evaluate the vector

Exercise 6.11 By writing arbitrary vectors a, b, and c in terms of the Carte-

Exercise 6.12 One of the vertices of a parallelogram is located at the origin

Exercise 6.13 Find a unit normal n̂ to a = i − 2j + k and b = 2i + j − 3k.

is a scalar, and r = xi + yj + zk is an arbitrary point on the line.

Exercise 6.15 Find a unit vector n̂ perpendicular to the vectors a = (−1, 0, 2)

Exercise 6.19 By writing the vectors a, b, and c in component form verify

Exercise 6.20 Show that (a × b) × (c × d) = c[(a × b) · d] − d[(a × b) · c]

b×c c×a a×b

Show that {a, b, c} and {a0 , b0 , c0 } are reciprocal sets.

and thence verify the relationships

[Hint: It may be shown that (a × b) × (c × d) = c[(a × b) · d] − d[(a × b) · c].]

Exercise 6.22 Prove Lagrange’s identity

without writing the vectors a, b, c, and d in component form.

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