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Vectors, EXT1* V1 2024 HSC 12a

The vector \(\underset{\sim}{a}\) is \(\left(\begin{array}{l}1 \\ 2 \\ 3\end{array}\right)\) and the vector \(\underset{\sim}{b}\) is \(\left(\begin{array}{c}2 \\ 0 \\ -4\end{array}\right)\).

  1. Find \(\dfrac{\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}{\underset{\sim}{b} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}\, \underset{\sim}{b}\).   (1 mark)

  2. Show that  \(\underset{\sim}{a}-\dfrac{\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}{\underset{\sim}{b} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}\, \underset{\sim}{b}\)  is perpendicular to \(\underset{\sim}{b}\).   (2 marks)

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i.     \(\left(\begin{array}{c}-1 \\ 0 \\ 2\end{array}\right)\)

ii.    \(\underset{\sim}{a}-\dfrac{\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}{\underset{\sim}{b} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}\, \underset{\sim}{b}=\left(\begin{array}{l}1 \\ 2 \\ 3\end{array}\right)-\left(\begin{array}{c}-1 \\ 0 \\ 2\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{l}2 \\ 2 \\ 1\end{array}\right)\)

\( \left(\underset{\sim}{a}-\dfrac{\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}{\underset{\sim}{b} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}\underset{\sim}{b}\right)\left(\begin{array}{c}-1 \\ 0 \\ 2\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{l}2 \\ 2 \\ 1\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{c}-1 \\ 0 \\ 2\end{array}\right) = -2+0+2=0\)

\(\therefore\ \text {Vectors are perpendicular.}\)

Show Worked Solution

i.    \(\underset{\sim}{a}=\left(\begin{array}{l}1 \\ 2 \\ 3\end{array}\right), \quad \underset{\sim}{b}=\left(\begin{array}{c}2 \\ 0 \\ -4\end{array}\right)\)
 

\(\dfrac{\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}{\underset{\sim}{b} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}\, \underset{\sim}{b}=\dfrac{2+0-12}{4+0+16}\left(\begin{array}{c}2 \\ 0 \\ -4\end{array}\right)=-\dfrac{1}{2}\left(\begin{array}{c}2 \\ 0 \\ -4\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{c}-1 \\ 0 \\ 2\end{array}\right)\)

 
ii.    \(\underset{\sim}{a}-\dfrac{\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}{\underset{\sim}{b} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}\, \underset{\sim}{b}=\left(\begin{array}{l}1 \\ 2 \\ 3\end{array}\right)-\left(\begin{array}{c}-1 \\ 0 \\ 2\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{l}2 \\ 2 \\ 1\end{array}\right)\)
 

\( \left(\underset{\sim}{a}-\dfrac{\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}{\underset{\sim}{b} \cdot \underset{\sim}{b}}\,\underset{\sim}{b}\right)\left(\begin{array}{c}-1 \\ 0 \\ 2\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{l}2 \\ 2 \\ 1\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{c}-1 \\ 0 \\ 2\end{array}\right) = -2+0+2=0\)

 
\(\therefore\ \text{Vectors are perpendicular.}\)