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Vectors, EXT2 V1 2025 HSC 16c

Consider the point \(B\) with three-dimensional position vector \(\underset{\sim}{b}\) and the line  \(\ell: \underset{\sim}{a}+\lambda \underset{\sim}{d}\), where \(\underset{\sim}{a}\) and \(\underset{\sim}{d}\) are three-dimensional vectors, \(\abs{\underset{\sim}{d}}=1\) and \(\lambda\) is a parameter.

Let \(f(\lambda)\) be the distance between a point on the line \(\ell\) and the point \(B\).

  1. Find \(\lambda_0\), the value of \(\lambda\) that minimises \(f\), in terms of \(\underset{\sim}{a}, \underset{\sim}{b}\) and \(\underset{\sim}{d}\).   (2 marks)

  2. Let \(P\) be the point with position vector  \(\underset{\sim}{a}+\lambda_0 \underset{\sim}{d}\).
  3. Show that \(PB\) is perpendicular to the direction of the line \(\ell\).   (1 mark)

  4. Hence, or otherwise, find the shortest distance between the line \(\ell\) and the sphere of radius 1 unit, centred at the origin \(O\), in terms of \(\underset{\sim}{d}\) and \(\underset{\sim}{a}\).
  5. You may assume that if \(B\) is the point on the sphere closest to \(\ell\), then \(O B P\) is a straight line.   (3 marks)

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i.    \(\lambda_0=\underset{\sim}{d}(\underset{\sim}{b}-\underset{\sim}{a})\)

ii.   \(\text{See Worked Solutions.}\)

iii.  \(d_{\min }= \begin{cases}\sqrt{\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-(\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2}-1, & \sqrt{\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-(\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2}>1 \\ 0, & \sqrt{\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-(\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2} \leqslant 1 \ \ \text{(i.e. it touches sphere) }\end{cases}\)

Show Worked Solution

i.    \(\ell=\underset{\sim}{a}+\lambda \underset{\sim}{d}, \quad\abs{\underset{\sim}{d}}=1\)

\(\text{Vector from point \(B\) to a point on \(\ell\)}:\ \underset{\sim}{a}+\lambda \underset{\sim}{d}-\underset{\sim}{b}\)

\(f(\lambda)=\text{distance between \(\ell\) and \(B\)}\)

\(f(\lambda)=\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}+\lambda \underset{\sim}{d}}\)

\(\text{At} \ \ \lambda_0, f(\lambda) \ \ \text{is a min}\ \Rightarrow \ f(\lambda)^2 \ \ \text {is also a min}\)

♦♦ Mean mark (i) 33%.
\(f(\lambda)^2\) \(=\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}+\lambda \underset{\sim}{d}}^2\)
  \(=(\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}+\lambda \underset{\sim}{d})(\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}+\lambda \underset{\sim}{d})\)
  \(=(\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b})\cdot (\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b})+2\lambda (\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}) \cdot \underset{\sim}{d}+\lambda^2 \underset{\sim}{d} \cdot  \underset{\sim}{d}\)
  \(=\lambda^2|\underset{\sim}{d}|^2+2 \underset{\sim}{d} \cdot (\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}) \lambda +\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}}^2\)
  \(=\lambda^2+2 \underset{\sim}{d} \cdot (\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}) \lambda+\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}}^2\)

 

\(f(\lambda)^2 \ \ \text{is a concave up quadratic.}\)

\(f(\lambda)_{\text {min}}^2 \ \ \text{occurs at the vertex.}\)

\(\lambda_0=-\dfrac{b}{2 a}=-\dfrac{2 \underset{\sim}{d} \cdot (\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b})}{2}=\underset{\sim}{d} \cdot (\underset{\sim}{b}-\underset{\sim}{a})\)
 

ii.    \(P \ \text{has position vector} \ \ \underset{\sim}{a}+\lambda_0 \underset{\sim}{d}\)

\(\text{Show} \ \ \overrightarrow{PB} \perp \ell:\)

♦♦♦ Mean mark (ii) 22%.

\(\overrightarrow{PB}=\underset{\sim}{b}-\underset{\sim}{p}=\underset{\sim}{b}-\underset{\sim}{a}-\lambda_0 \underset{\sim}{d}\)

\(\overrightarrow{P B} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d}\) \(=\left(\underset{\sim}{b}-\underset{\sim}{a}-\lambda_0 \underset{\sim}{d}\right) \cdot \underset{\sim}{d}\)
  \(=(\underset{\sim}{b}-\underset{\sim}{a}) \cdot \underset{\sim}{d}-\lambda_0 \underset{\sim}{d} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d}\)
  \(=\lambda_0-\lambda_0\abs{\underset{\sim}{d}}^2\)
  \(=0\)

 

\(\therefore \overrightarrow{PB}\ \text{is perpendicular to the direction of the line}\ \ell. \)
 

iii.   \(\text{Shortest distance between} \ \ell \ \text{and sphere (radius\(=1\))}\)

\(=\ \text{(shortest distance \(\ell\) to \(O\))}-1\)

♦♦♦ Mean mark (iii) 4%.

\(f\left(\lambda_0\right)=\text{shortest distance \(\ell\) to point \(B\)}\)

\(\text{Set} \ \ \underset{\sim}{b}=0 \ \Rightarrow \ f\left(\lambda_0\right)=\text{shortest distance \(\ell\) to \(0\)}\)

\(\Rightarrow \lambda_0=\underset{\sim}{d} \cdot (\underset{\sim}{b}-\underset{\sim}{a})=-\underset{\sim}{d} \cdot \underset{\sim}{a}\)

\(f\left(\lambda_0\right)\) \(=\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}-\underset{\sim}{b}-(\underset{\sim}{d} \cdot \underset{\sim}{a})\cdot \underset{\sim}{d}}=\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}-(\underset{\sim}{d} \cdot \underset{\sim}{a})\cdot \underset{\sim}{d}}\)
\(f\left(\lambda_0\right)^2\) \(=\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-2( \underset{\sim}{a}\cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2+(\underset{\sim}{d} \cdot \underset{\sim}{a})^2\abs{\underset{\sim}{d}}^2\)
  \(=\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-(\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2\)
\(f\left(\lambda_0\right)\) \(=\sqrt{\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-(\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2}\)

 

\(\text {Shortest distance of \(\ell\) to sphere \(\left(d_{\min }\right)\):}\)

\(d_{\min }= \begin{cases}\sqrt{\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-(\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2}-1, & \sqrt{\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-(\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2}>1 \\ 0, & \sqrt{\abs{\underset{\sim}{a}}^2-(\underset{\sim}{a} \cdot \underset{\sim}{d})^2} \leqslant 1 \ \ \text{(i.e. it touches sphere) }\end{cases}\)

Vectors, EXT2 V1 2024 HSC 13a

The point \(A\) has position vector  \(8 \underset{\sim}{i}-6 \underset{\sim}{j}+5 \underset{\sim}{k}\). The line \(\ell\) has vector equation

\(x \underset{\sim}{i}+y \underset{\sim}{j}+z \underset{\sim}{k}=t(\underset{\sim}{i}+\underset{\sim}{j}+2 \underset{\sim}{k})\).

The point \(B\) lies on \(\ell\) and has position vector  \(p \underset{\sim}{i}+p \underset{\sim}{j}+2 p \underset{\sim}{k}\).

  1. Show that  \(\abs{A B}^2=6 p^2-24 p+125\).   (1 mark)

  2. Hence, or otherwise, determine the shortest distance between the point \(A\) and the line \(\ell\).  (2 marks)

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i.     \(A\left(\begin{array}{c}8 \\ -6 \\ 5\end{array}\right), \quad \ell: \left(\begin{array}{l}x \\ y \\ z\end{array}\right)+t\left(\begin{array}{l}1 \\ 1 \\ 2\end{array}\right), \quad B\left(\begin{array}{c}p \\ p \\ 2 p\end{array}\right)\)
 

\(\overrightarrow{A B}=\left(\begin{array}{l}p \\ p \\ 2 p\end{array}\right)-\left(\begin{array}{c}8 \\ -6 \\ 5\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{c}p-8 \\ p+6 \\ 2 p-5\end{array}\right)\)
 

  \(\abs{AB}^2\) \(=(p-8)^2+(p+6)^2+(2 p-5)^2\)
    \(=p^2-16 p+64+p^2+12 p+36+4 p^2-20 p+25\)
    \(=6 p^2-24 p+125\)

 

ii.    \(\abs{AB}_{\text {min}}=\sqrt{101} \text { units}\)

Show Worked Solution

i.     \(A\left(\begin{array}{c}8 \\ -6 \\ 5\end{array}\right), \quad \ell: \left(\begin{array}{l}x \\ y \\ z\end{array}\right)+t\left(\begin{array}{l}1 \\ 1 \\ 2\end{array}\right), \quad B\left(\begin{array}{c}p \\ p \\ 2 p\end{array}\right)\)
 

\(\overrightarrow{A B}=\left(\begin{array}{l}p \\ p \\ 2 p\end{array}\right)-\left(\begin{array}{c}8 \\ -6 \\ 5\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{c}p-8 \\ p+6 \\ 2 p-5\end{array}\right)\)
 

  \(\abs{AB}^2\) \(=(p-8)^2+(p+6)^2+(2 p-5)^2\)
    \(=p^2-16 p+64+p^2+12 p+36+4 p^2-20 p+25\)
    \(=6 p^2-24 p+125\)

  

ii.    \(\text{Find shortest distance between \(A\) and \(\ell\).}\)

\(\Rightarrow \text { Find \(p\) when \(\abs{A B}\) is a minimum:}\)

\(\text{Minimum occurs when}\ \ p=\dfrac{-b}{2 a}=\dfrac{24}{2 \times 6}=2\)

\(\therefore \abs{AB}_{\text {min}}=\sqrt{6(2)^2-24(2)+125}=\sqrt{101} \text { units}\)

♦ Mean mark (ii) 45%.

Vectors, EXT2 V1 EQ-Bank 17

Find the value of `n` given

`underset~v = ((5),(2),(n)) + lambda_1((2),(1),(3))` 

is perpendicular to

`underset~u = ((2),(0),(1)) + lambda_2((2),(n),(1))`.   (2 marks)

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`−7`

Show Worked Solution

`text(Given)\ \ underset~v ⊥ underset~u:`

`((2),(1),(3)) · ((2),(n),(1)) = 0`

`4 + n + 3` `= 0`
`n` `= −7`

Vectors, EXT2 V1 EQ-Bank 23

  1. Find values of `a, b, c` and `d` such that  `underset~v = ((a),(b)) + 2((c),(d))`  is a vector equation of a line that passes through `((3),(1))` and `((−3),(−3))`.   (2 marks)

  2. Determine whether  `underset~u = ((4),(6)) + lambda((−2),(3))`  is perpendicular to `underset~v`.   (1 mark)

  3. Express `underset~u` in Cartessian form.   (1 mark)

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a.    `a = 3, b = 1, c = −3, d = −2,\ text{or}\ a = −3, b = −3, c = 3, d = 2`

b.    `text(See worked solutions)`

c.    `y = −3/2x + 12`

Show Worked Solution

a.    `text(Method 1)`

`overset(->)(OA) = underset~a = ((3),(1)),\ \ overset(->)(OB) = underset~b = ((−3),(−3))`

`overset(->)(AB)` `= overset(->)(OB)-overset(->)(OA)`
  `= ((−3),(−3))-((3),(1))`
  `= ((−6),(−4))`

 

`underset~v` `= underset~a + lambdaunderset~b`
  `= ((3),(1)) + lambda((−6),(−4))`
  `= ((3),(1)) + 2((−3),(−2))`

 
`:. a = 3, b = 1, c = −3, d = −2`
 

`text(Method 2)`

`overset(->)(BA)` `= overset(->)(OA)-overset(->)(OB)`
  `= ((3),(1))-((−3),(−3))`
  `= ((6),(4))`

 
`underset~v = ((−3),(−3)) + 2((3),(2))`

`:. a = −3, b = −3, c = 3, d = 2`
 

b.   `underset~u = ((4),(6)) + lambda((−2),(3))`

`underset~v = ((3),(1)) + 2((−3),(−2))`

`((−2),(3)) · ((−3),(−2)) = 6-6 = 0`

`:. underset~u ⊥ underset~v`
 

c.   `((x),(y))= ((4),(6)) + lambda((−2),(3))`

`x = 4-2lambda\ \ \ …\ (1)`

`y = 6 + 3lambda\ \ \ …\ (2)`

`text(Substitute)\ \ lambda = (4-x)/2\ \ text{from (1) into (2):}`

`y` `= 6 + 3((4-x)/2)`
`y` `= 6 + 6-(3x)/2`
`y` `= −3/2x + 12`

Vectors, EXT2 V1 EQ-Bank 30

Use the vector form of the linear equations

`3x-2y = 4`  and  `3y + 2x-6 = 0`

to show they are perpendicular.   (3 marks)

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`text(Proof)\ text{(See Worked Solutions)}`

Show Worked Solution
`3x-2y` `= 4`
`3x` `= 2y + 4`
`3/2 x` `=y+2`
`x/(2/3)` `= y + 2`

 
`underset ~(v_1) = ((0), (-2)) + lambda ((2/3), (1))`

`3y + 2x-6` `= 0`
`2x` `= -3y + 6`
`-2/3 x` `= y-2`
`x/(-3/2)` `= y-2`

 
`underset ~(v_2) = ((0), (2)) + lambda ((-3/2), (1))`

`((2/3), (1)) ((-3/2), (1)) = -1 + 1 = 0`

`:. underset ~(v_1) _|_ underset ~(v_2)`

Vectors, EXT2 V1 EQ-Bank 29

Find the value of `x` and `y`, given

`underset ~r = ((5), (-1), (2)) + lambda ((x), (y), (-3))`

and  `underset ~r`  is perpendicular to both `underset ~v` and `underset ~w`, where

`underset ~v = ((1), (2), (1)) + mu_1 ((3), (-3), (-1))`  and  `underset ~w = ((-3), (1), (1)) + mu_2 ((-4), (-1), (-2))`.   (2 marks)

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`x = 1, y = 2`

Show Worked Solution

`text(S) text(ince)\ underset ~r\ text(is perpendicular to)\ underset ~v and underset ~w:`
 

`((x), (y), (-3))((3), (-3), (-1)) = 0`

`3x-3y + 3` `= 0`
`x-y` `= -1\ text{… (1)}`

 
`((x), (y), (-3))((-4), (-1), (-2)) = 0`

`-4x-y + 6` `= 0`
`4x + y` `= 6\ text{… (2)}`

 
`(1) + (2)`

`5x` `= 5`
`x` `= 1`
`y` `= 2`