Referred to the origin OO, the points AA and BB are such that OA→=a\overrightarrow{OA} = \mathbf{a} and OB→=b\overrightarrow{OB} = \mathbf{b} with a\mathbf{a} not parallel to b\mathbf{b}. The point PP is on ABAB produced with AP:AB=3:1AP : AB = 3 : 1 and the position vector of point QQ is 2a2\mathbf{a}.

  1. (a)

    Find the position vector of the point of intersection of lines OBOB and PQPQ, giving your answer in terms of b\mathbf{b}.

  2. (b)

    It is given that a×b=2i−4j+2k\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b} = 2\mathbf{i} - 4\mathbf{j} + 2\mathbf{k} and the point C(0,3,4)C(0, 3, 4) does not lie on the plane OABOAB. Find the coordinates of the foot of the perpendicular from CC to the plane OABOAB.

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Worked solution

3(a)

1. Find the position vector of $P$ using the given ratio.

Since PP is on ABAB produced with AP:AB=3:1AP : AB = 3 : 1, the points are collinear in the order A−B−PA-B-P.
Thus, BB divides APAP in the ratio 1:21 : 2.
Using the ratio theorem:
OB→=2OA→+1OP→1+2\overrightarrow{OB} = \frac{2\overrightarrow{OA} + 1\overrightarrow{OP}}{1 + 2}
b=2a+OP→3\mathbf{b} = \frac{2\mathbf{a} + \overrightarrow{OP}}{3}
3b=2a+OP→  ⟹  OP→=3b−2a3\mathbf{b} = 2\mathbf{a} + \overrightarrow{OP} \implies \overrightarrow{OP} = 3\mathbf{b} - 2\mathbf{a}

2. Formulate the vector equations for lines $OB$ and $PQ$.

Line OBOB passes through the origin and point BB:
lOB:r=μbl_{OB}: \mathbf{r} = \mu \mathbf{b}
Line PQPQ passes through PP and Q(2a)Q(2\mathbf{a}):
lPQ:r=OP→+λ(OQ→−OP→)l_{PQ}: \mathbf{r} = \overrightarrow{OP} + \lambda (\overrightarrow{OQ} - \overrightarrow{OP})
r=(3b−2a)+λ(2a−(3b−2a))\mathbf{r} = (3\mathbf{b} - 2\mathbf{a}) + \lambda (2\mathbf{a} - (3\mathbf{b} - 2\mathbf{a}))
r=(3b−2a)+λ(4a−3b)\mathbf{r} = (3\mathbf{b} - 2\mathbf{a}) + \lambda (4\mathbf{a} - 3\mathbf{b})
r=(4λ−2)a+(3−3λ)b\mathbf{r} = (4\lambda - 2)\mathbf{a} + (3 - 3\lambda)\mathbf{b}

3. Equate the line equations to find the intersection point parameters.

At the point of intersection, the position vectors from both line equations must be equal:
μb=(4λ−2)a+(3−3λ)b\mu \mathbf{b} = (4\lambda - 2)\mathbf{a} + (3 - 3\lambda)\mathbf{b}
Since a\mathbf{a} and b\mathbf{b} are non-parallel vectors, their coefficients can be equated independently:
For a\mathbf{a}:
4λ−2=0  ⟹  λ=124\lambda - 2 = 0 \implies \lambda = \frac{1}{2}
For b\mathbf{b}:
μ=3−3λ\mu = 3 - 3\lambda
μ=3−3(12)=32\mu = 3 - 3\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) = \frac{3}{2}

4. State the final position vector of the intersection.

Substitute μ=32\mu = \frac{3}{2} into lOBl_{OB} (or λ=12\lambda = \frac{1}{2} into lPQl_{PQ}) to get the position vector:
OR→=32b\overrightarrow{OR} = \frac{3}{2}\mathbf{b}

Answer

32b\frac{3}{2}\mathbf{b}

3(b)

1. Identify the normal vector to the plane $OAB$ and establish the equation of the plane.

The normal vector to the plane OABOAB is given by the cross product of two non-parallel vectors on the plane. Since a\mathbf{a} and b\mathbf{b} lie on the plane,

n=a×b=2i−4j+2k=2(1−21)\mathbf{n} = \mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b} = 2\mathbf{i} - 4\mathbf{j} + 2\mathbf{k} = 2 \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}

We can use a simpler normal vector n′=(1−21)\mathbf{n}' = \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}.
Since the plane passes through the origin OO, the scalar product equation of the plane is:
r⋅(1−21)=0\mathbf{r} \cdot \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} = 0

2. Formulate the vector equation of the line passing through $C$ and perpendicular to the plane $OAB$.

Let the foot of the perpendicular be FF. The line CFCF passes through C(0,3,4)C(0, 3, 4) and is parallel to the normal vector of the plane.

Equation of line CFCF:
r=(034)+λ(1−21),λ∈R\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 3 \\ 4 \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}, \quad \lambda \in \mathbb{R}

3. Substitute the line equation into the plane equation to find the value of the parameter $\lambda$ at the intersection point.

At the point of intersection FF, the line meets the plane. Substituting the line's vector equation into the plane's equation:

[(034)+λ(1−21)]⋅(1−21)=0\left[ \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 3 \\ 4 \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \right] \cdot \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} = 0
(λ3−2λ4+λ)⋅(1−21)=0\begin{pmatrix} \lambda \\ 3 - 2\lambda \\ 4 + \lambda \end{pmatrix} \cdot \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} = 0
λ(1)+(3−2λ)(−2)+(4+λ)(1)=0\lambda(1) + (3 - 2\lambda)(-2) + (4 + \lambda)(1) = 0
λ−6+4λ+4+λ=0\lambda - 6 + 4\lambda + 4 + \lambda = 0
6λ−2=0  ⟹  λ=136\lambda - 2 = 0 \implies \lambda = \frac{1}{3}

4. Substitute the value of $\lambda$ back into the line equation to find the position vector and state the coordinates of $F$.

Substitute λ=13\lambda = \frac{1}{3} into the equation of line CFCF:

OF→=(034)+13(1−21)=(1/33−2/34+1/3)=(1/37/313/3)\overrightarrow{OF} = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 3 \\ 4 \end{pmatrix} + \frac{1}{3} \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 1/3 \\ 3 - 2/3 \\ 4 + 1/3 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 1/3 \\ 7/3 \\ 13/3 \end{pmatrix}

The coordinates of the foot of the perpendicular are (13,73,133)\left( \frac{1}{3}, \frac{7}{3}, \frac{13}{3} \right).

Answer

(13,73,133)\left( \frac{1}{3}, \frac{7}{3}, \frac{13}{3} \right)

AI analysis — may contain mistakes.

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