1.

2017 H2 MA Prelim Compilation - Vectors SOLUTIONS (45 Questions)

AJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q3

Equation of line through point P and perpendicular to is

Since F lies on plane ,

( 2+ ) -2(1-2 ) + 2(1+2 ) = 7 =1

, =

shortest distance from P to plane =

(ii)

(iii) lies on line m,

-1-4 = 1 --- (1)
-1+(1+2a) = -4 --- (2)
3+(3+2a) = -1 --- (3)
From (1) : = - ½
From (2) : a = 5/2
From (3) : a = 5/2 . Hence the value of a is 5/2
Alternative method

Since line m contains F and is parallel to , line m lies on .

Since line m is on , Q is on . hence is // and

(iv) Method 1 (dot product)

and normal to the x-y plane =

length of projection of on the x-y plane

= PR Q
= P R

Method 2 (cross product)

length of projection of on the x-y plane

CJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q2

(i) Length of projection of on to
(ii)

(iii)

(iv)
Area OPQ =

5 2
Smallest Area OPQ = unit 2
2
DHS Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q4
(a)

O b 3 B 2 C

(i)
Equation of line AC:

(ii) Since l lies on the plane containing O, A and B, its direction vector is coplanar
with a and b, thus it will be a linear combination of a and b, i.e. is a
direction vector for l.
(iii) Let intersection point be D.
At D,

Since a and b are non-zero, non-parallel vectors,

(b)
 Method 1
Since the base length (OB) and perpendicular height remain the same, the area of parallelograms
formed by different k remains the same as the area of the parallelogram with sides OA and OB.
Method 2

Area of parallelogram

HCI Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q5

(a)

Since is non-zero and ,

is parallel to .
.

(b)(i) P

O
 (b)(ii)

HCI Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q4

(i)

Cartesian equation of is .
(ii)
q

Using GC, l
a vector equation of l is

p
.

(iii) q

l
B
p
 q
(iv) Equation of :
l
B
p

length of projection of AB on is

(v) Vector equation of line through A and perpendicular to q is .

q
Since line passes through , A'

C
B

Using Mid-point Theorem,

equation of required line is or

cartesian equation is x 0, y 5 z .
IJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q3
(i)

Alternative:

Given that the i- and j- components of the vector are equal,

(ii)

(iii) Since and are perpendicular,

Alternative:

Since and are perpendicular,

JJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q3
(i) A(3, 0, 2), B (1, 0, 3), C(2, 3, 5)

(ii) Equation of is = 14.

Sub. A(3, 0, 2) into equation of ,
= 14
k=4 (Shown)
Sub. B(1, 0, 3) into LHS of equation of ,
LHS = = = 14 = RHS
B is also in .
Since B is in both and , B is on the river. (Deduced)

(iii) Recall , using A(3, 0, 2) or B (1, 0, 3),

a cartesian equation of the river (line AB) is

or

(iv) Since ,

is perpendicular to AB.
B is the point on the river that is nearest to C.
Exact distance from C to the river

=
 (v) Acute angle between BC and

MI Prelim 9740/2017/01/Q5
(i)

(ii) .

(iii)
 (iv)

MI Prelim 9740/2017/02/Q4
(i)

(ii)
Method 1:

, for some

Since N is the intersection point of line AN and plane,

Method 2:
 , where

(iii)

(iv)

Since ,
 (v)Using GC:
Equation of line of intersection:

(vi)Geometrical interpretation:
Either: the three planes are the sides of a triangular prism

OR: is parallel to the line of intersection of and , but does not contain it.

MJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q4

Solution:
(a)(i) Let be the angle between and .

(a)(ii) Let h be the shortest distance from B to line OA.

(b) Let .
1) is perpendicular to e.
2) is perpendicular to both c and d.

Since is perpendicular to c, d and e and c, d and e passes through common point O points
O, C, D and E are coplanar.
MJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q10
Solutions:

(i)

Cartesian equation of is .

(ii)

Let the foot of perpendicular from A to be F.

Since F lies on ,

Note that A lies on since .

Let be the point of reflection of A about .

Note that lies on .

: .
 By GC, the line of intersection between and is

A vector parallel to is

A cartesian equation of is

NJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q8

(i)
(ii)Since is similar to , OD parallel to AB.
.

(iii)Let .
 .

(iv)Equation of line passing through OB:

Equation of line:

Direction vector of line is not parallel to direction vector of line passing through O and B since
direction vectors of both lines are not scalar multiple of each other.

Solving equations simultaneously:

There is no value of and that satisfy the above equation.

Since the lines are not parallel and non-intersecting, the lines are skew.
NYJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q9

(i)

Locus of P is the plane with equation

(ii)

Normal of the locus of P (plane),

Hence the line l and the plane are parallel.

Equation of the plane,

Hence l does not lie in the plane.

Points P and Q will never meet.
[Note that it is not sufficient just to show that l is parallel to the plane as it may actually lie on it.
One must still need to show that there is a point on l that is not on the plane]
Alternatively, one can check that

for all .

(iii)
Shortest distance between P and Q is the distance between the line and the parallel plane.

(iv)
Lines l and m are non-parallel. Hence .
If the two lines intersect,

for some

___(1)
___(2)
___(3)
 From (1),
Substituting in (2),
and satisfies (3)
Thus for the system of linear equations to be inconsistent, .
Hence lines l and m are skew when .
(v)
Let F be the foot of perpendicular from X to line l.

NYJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q1

(i)
Assume that and are non-parallel vectors.
,
On the line BC,
On the line AD,
Since and are non-zero, non-parallel vectors, comparing coefficient

Thus
(ii)
Since a is a unit vector in the direction of OC,
PJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q10

(i)

(ii) To find intersection between y-axis and l, sub into l

Thus, point of intersection is .

Point of reflection of about y-axis is

Line of reflection,

(ii)
 (iii)
Let the point that is equidistant from both planes be C.

for some

Distance of C from p = Distance of C from x-y plane

or

or

or
The 2 points are and .

PJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q1

A M

B
O Q
area of triangle OPM
 area of triangle OQM

Ratio of the area of triangle OPM to the area of triangle OQM is

(Shown)

RI Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q1

(i) , ,

Since M is the mid-point of AC,

Area of

Or:
Area of

Area of = Area of =

(ii)

Since point N is on the line AB,

for some

For to be perpendicular to ,
RI Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q4
(i)

Since and are not parallel, and are not parallel.

If the two lines intersect, there will be a unique value of and for the system of equations

Using GC, no solution of and exist. Hence, the lines do not intersect.

Hence, and are skew lines.

(ii)

Since (1, 4, 1) lies on which is on p,

Hence a cartesian equation for p is .

(iii) (0, 0, 1) is a point on .
Distance from A to

(1, 4, 1) is a point on p.

Distance from A to p

Since the point A is equidistant to p and ,

RVHS Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q5
(i)

is the length of projection of onto

(ii)

(iii)

Area of triangle AMC

=

=
RVHS Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q9
(i)

Let be the angle between the line l and the plane .

(ii)

Coordinates of N =
(iii)
Since N is the midpoint of A and B, using ratio theorem,

Coordinates of B = 12,12,7
 (iv)Let C be the point of intersection of the line l and the plane .

(v)

Since ,

SAJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q4

(i)Equation of plane is

A normal vector to plane is

Hence vector equation of the plane is

(ii)

Thus .

Since C lies on the plane:

Thus

(iii)
Using mid-point theorem

B is the point of intersection of l1 and .

or
SRJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q6
TJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q6

(a) (i) Given: , and

(ii) Length of projection of b on a

(iii) Let N be the foot of perpendicular from B to line OA.

Length of projection, =

Since is an obtuse angle,

 (b) Given: ,

where is the angle between p and q

Thus, p and q are perpendicular to each other (shown)

TJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q10

(i)
A(3,1,1)

P is a point on l with parameter t l

P

Let be the acute angle between BP and l

2 2 2 2
AP 1 0 t 1 1
1 2 1 1
Then, cos
2 2 2t
2
t2 2 t
2
4 1 1
AP 1
1

N is the closest point to A

when .
A(3,1,1)
t 1

l
Thus, N
(ii) Let be the point of reflection of A in l
Using ratio theorem,

Thus, the coordinate of

(i) l: ,

L: , i.e., L : ,

At point of intersection of lines l and L:

l and L, the two lines intersect and thus cannot be

skew lines.

(ii) L :

Let B L.

Shortest distance from A to L

TJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q4
Equation of line AB is .
Equation of line DC is .
To find E, the point of intersection of lines AB and CD,
consider

Since a is not parallel to b,

Solving (1) and (2), we have and

(i)

OA and OB are perpendicular

AC and BD are perpendicular
(as AC is parallel to OA and BD is parallel to OB)

(ii) Equation of the plane p is , i.e.

(iii) Distance between the line AC and the plane p = distance of O from p
TPJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q10

is parallel to the normal of ,

and thus is perpendicular to .

Alternative Method:

is parallel to the normal of ,

and thus is perpendicular to

(ii) Since M is the midpoint of A and :

Coordinates of M are . Note:

Question asks for

Since , coordinates form.
M lies in . (shown)

(iii) .

Since B lies on ,

Coordinates of B are .

Likewise for part (vi).

(iv) Note:
You are expected to
recognize that .

Hence, acute angle between the line AB and

(v) Possible cartesian equations of :

As incident ray AD varies, D is nearest to origin when OD is the shortest. Note that contains
(vi) the origin.

(3 s.f.)

Let be the required angle of inclination:

(vii
)
TPJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q2

Alternatively:

By midpoint theorem:

(ii)
Area of triangle OAB =

Area of triangle OAN =

(iii)
is the length of perpendicular from O to AN.

Alternative answer:

is the shortest distance from O to AN.

 is the area of a parallelogram formed with vector and unit vector as its

adjacent sides. (Not recommended here)

Area of triangle

VJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q11

(i)

(ii) Intersection of light beam with reflective surface:

Coordinates of point of intersection =

(iii) Let F be the foot of perpendicular from device to normal line and A be the point :

Using Ratio Theorem,

Equation of reflected light path:

VJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q2

(i) Length of projection of onto

(ii)

Since // and A is a common point,

, and are collinear

Given ,
Area of triangle OBD
YJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q3

Area of triangle OMP

YJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q5

(i) If and meet at , then is perpendicular to .

Since lies on ,

=0

(ii) Let be the acute angle between and .

Therefore
 (iii) Let .
Observe lies on

Shortest distance of B from

Observe lies on

Shortest distance of B from

or

ACJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q5

Alternatively
 P is on

P is on
A
Equating
P

Comparing coefficients of a and b B

and

Note that , therefore O

ACJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q4

(a)(i)

(a)(ii)

Therefore position vector of point is

Coordinates =
OR
(b)

(b)(i)
perpendicular to

(b)(ii)
AJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q9

Since
and given

(ii)
Using ratio theorem, .

(iii) |c f| denotes twice the area of the triangle COF.

(iv)

Maximum occurs when is most negative. i.e. when .

At that value of t,
CJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q11
(i)

Solving,
(shown)

Method : (Using Equation of Lines)

Since X lies on both lines,

Solving,
(shown)

Method : (Using Ratio Theorem)

Solving,

(shown)
(ii)

Since ,
with a common point O,
hence X lies on OT.

(iii)

Since is perpendicular to the plane, and origin O is on the plane,

it is represented by

(shown)
(iv)

Line VF, .

Since F is on , .

Since F is on p, .
The coordinates of F is .
(v)

V m

F X

l
Let be the reflection of V in plane p.

Line

Line
DHS Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q9

(i) A vector equation of is

Then a vector equation of is

A vector perpendicular to is

Eqn of :

Cartesian eqn :
(ii) Distance of a line // to a plane is the distance between a point on this line to the plane
Required
distance

F A(3,7,3)
Alternative :

Equation of line BF:

As F lies in

(iii)

A vector perpendicular to

Equation of
(iv)

N
c d

line d is a reflection of line c in the line e which passes through A, is perpendicular to and
and lying in

Eqn of line e :

Foot of perpendicular, N, from to line e

Direction cosines of line d are

or

[Alternative to find - intersection of 2 lines]

Eqn of line e :

Eqn of line GN:

At N,

(v) Shortest distance from Q to line d

IJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q10
(i)

or equivalent

(ii)

(iii)
Let be a vector perpendicular to the plane containing the light ray and .

or

(iv)
Glass upper surface is
Glass bottom surface is
Distance between two planes

Thickness of the glass object is cm

(v)
Let the point at which the light ray leaves the glass object be F.
Method 1:

At F,

OR

The coordinates of F are

Method 2:

The coordinates of F are

JJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q6

(i)

By Ratio Theorem, =

= (Shown)

(ii) Vector equation of line UM is ,

= =

Vector equation of line VN is ,

At point of intersection G,
=
For u: =
For w: =
Solving, = =

= = (Shown)

(iii)

OG =

Direction cosines of OG are , i.e.,

NJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q1
(i)Method 1

Method 2 (for marking reference)

Let

Thus,

x
(ii)Let w y .
z
 Let
From (2):
From (1):

Thus, , which is the vector equation of the straight

line. The set of vectors is

NJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q4

(i) , , . Hence,

, and

A vector perpendicular to the plane is

Cartesian equation of the plane is

(ii)
Let the required angle be

(or 0.545 rad)

(iii)
Method 1

Angle between DB and the ground

From the diagram, the canvas will cover B.

Method 2

Equation of perpendicular line passing through B, l:

Using normal of plane to be i.e. all entries are positive:

solve the equation of plane DEF and l:

Since , l and plane DEF intersect above the horizontal ground. So the canvas covers the
point B.

Method 3

Distance from O to plane parallel to DEF and passing through B is smaller than the distance
between O and plane DEF. Hence B is beneath the canvas.

(iv)

Normal vector of the vertical wall is and lies on the vertical wall.

Hence the equation of the vertical wall is .

Direction vector of the line of intersection is

Let be the common point on lying on the two planes.

Solving the above equations simultaneously

, where .

(v)
For P to shine the brightest at point B, P must be as near as possible to B. Thus P is the foot of
perpendicular from B to the roof.

Equation of the line passes through B and P:

Thus

Since P lies on the roof,

Substitute into
Alternatively, use projection vector:

To check for the direction of normal vector of DEF

n=

Hence, angle between and n is acute.

RI Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q11
(i)

Vector equation of the line depicting the path of the light ray from P to V is

(ii)

For shadow of the pyramid cast on the screen to not exceed the height of the screen,

(iii) Given that h = 10

Length of the shadow cast by edge VB

= =
 (iv)

Vector equation of the plane VBC is

Angle of inclination made by the mirror with the ground

is (correct to 1 d.p.)

SAJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q5

(i)
Since is perpendicular to ,

Since , and ,
Since are unit vectors, ,

Hence,
(ii)

O V

(iii)

O V

Since and are parallel, we have .

Volume of
SAJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q11
(i)

(ii)
A normal to p

Equation of plane

Or any equivalent equation of plane

(iii)

A normal to the plane EFGH =

(or any equivalent vector)

(iv)

Hence the coordinates of T are .

(v)
Equation of the drill line

, .

(vi)
Shortlist the possible planes:
ODGC, GCBF, OABC
Equation of Plane ODGC

Equation of Plane OABC

Equation of Plane GCBF

If the line of the drill exits from the cuboid, all of the following conditions must be satisfied:

.
The intersection of plane ODGC

Position vector is

Hence the point of intersection has coordinates .

Hence the drill line will exit from the side ODGC.

The intersection of plane OABC

Position vector is

Hence the point of intersection has coordinates .

Hence the drill line will not exit from the side OABC.

The intersection of plane GCBF

 Position vector is

Hence the point of intersection has coordinates .

Hence the drill line will not exit from the side GCBF.

SRJC Prelim 9758/2017/02/Q4

(i)

; ;

A normal to the plane is:

Thus an equation for is . (shown)

(ii) Let N be the point of intersection between the line and the plane.

for some

Since N lies on the plane, .

Thus, coordinates of N are (5, 1, 2).

(iii) Let the foot of the perpendicular from P to the plane be denoted by F.

Since F lies on ,

Since F lies on the plane,

Solving, ,

Let the reflection of point P in the mirror be .

By the midpoint theorem,

A direction vector for the reflected line is

Thus, an equation of the reflected line is:

Since is parallel to ,

Since the distance is ,

Solving,
YJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q12
(i) Let be the acute angle between the plane and the incident beam.

Therefore

(ii) Let F be the foot of the perpendicular from O to the plane.

F is on plane

P is on plane
Hence

(iii) Let .
Shortest distance of B from incident beam

Shortest distance of B from reflected beam

Hence sensor will not work properly.