With respect to an origin OO, the points AA and BB have position vectors a\mathbf{a} and b\mathbf{b} respectively where a\mathbf{a} and b\mathbf{b} are non-parallel. It is given that BB lies on the line segment ACAC such that BC→=3b−μa\overrightarrow{BC} = 3\mathbf{b} - \mu\mathbf{a}.

  1. (a)

    Find the value of μ\mu. Hence find OC→\overrightarrow{OC} in terms of a\mathbf{a} and b\mathbf{b}.

  2. (b)

    QQ is a point on line segment OCOC where OQ→=t OC→\overrightarrow{OQ} = t\,\overrightarrow{OC}. The line segment AQAQ meets line segment OBOB at point PP. Given that AP:PQ=λ:1AP : PQ = \lambda : 1, deduce the value of λt\lambda t.

  3. (c)

    By using your result in part (b), find the ratio OP:PBOP : PB when λ=5\lambda = 5.

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Worked solution

5(a)

1. Express $\overrightarrow{AB}$ and use collinearity to relate it to $\overrightarrow{BC}$.

AB→=OB→−OA→=b−a\overrightarrow{AB} = \overrightarrow{OB} - \overrightarrow{OA} = \mathbf{b} - \mathbf{a}

Since BB lies on the line segment ACAC, the points AA, BB, and CC are collinear. Thus, BC→\overrightarrow{BC} is a scalar multiple of AB→\overrightarrow{AB}:
BC→=kAB→\overrightarrow{BC} = k\overrightarrow{AB}
3b−μa=k(b−a)=kb−ka3\mathbf{b} - \mu\mathbf{a} = k(\mathbf{b} - \mathbf{a}) = k\mathbf{b} - k\mathbf{a}

2. Compare coefficients of the non-parallel vectors $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$ to find $\mu$.

Since a\mathbf{a} and b\mathbf{b} are non-parallel, we can equate their respective coefficients:
For b\mathbf{b}: k=3k = 3
For a\mathbf{a}: −μ=−k-\mu = -k

Therefore, μ=3\mu = 3.

3. Find $\overrightarrow{OC}$ in terms of $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$.

Using vector addition:
OC→=OB→+BC→\overrightarrow{OC} = \overrightarrow{OB} + \overrightarrow{BC}

Substitute μ=3\mu = 3 into BC→\overrightarrow{BC}:
OC→=b+(3b−3a)\overrightarrow{OC} = \mathbf{b} + (3\mathbf{b} - 3\mathbf{a})
OC→=4b−3a\overrightarrow{OC} = 4\mathbf{b} - 3\mathbf{a}

Answer

μ=3\mu = 3, OC→=4b−3a\overrightarrow{OC} = 4\mathbf{b} - 3\mathbf{a}

5(b)

1. State $\overrightarrow{OQ}$ in terms of $\mathbf{a}$, $\mathbf{b}$ and $t$ using the result from part (a).

From part (a), we have OC→=4b−3a\overrightarrow{OC} = 4\mathbf{b} - 3\mathbf{a}.
Given OQ→=t OC→\overrightarrow{OQ} = t\,\overrightarrow{OC},
OQ→=t(4b−3a)=4tb−3ta\overrightarrow{OQ} = t(4\mathbf{b} - 3\mathbf{a}) = 4t\mathbf{b} - 3t\mathbf{a}

2. Apply the ratio theorem to find an expression for $\overrightarrow{OP}$.

Since PP divides the line segment AQAQ in the ratio λ:1\lambda : 1, by the ratio theorem:
OP→=1⋅OA→+λ⋅OQ→λ+1\overrightarrow{OP} = \frac{1\cdot \overrightarrow{OA} + \lambda\cdot \overrightarrow{OQ}}{\lambda + 1}

3. Express $\overrightarrow{OP}$ in terms of $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{b}$.

OP→=a+λ(4tb−3ta)λ+1\overrightarrow{OP} = \frac{\mathbf{a} + \lambda(4t\mathbf{b} - 3t\mathbf{a})}{\lambda + 1}
OP→=(1−3λtλ+1)a+(4λtλ+1)b\overrightarrow{OP} = \left(\frac{1 - 3\lambda t}{\lambda + 1}\right)\mathbf{a} + \left(\frac{4\lambda t}{\lambda + 1}\right)\mathbf{b}

4. Use the collinearity of $O, P, B$ to set the coefficient of $\mathbf{a}$ to zero and solve for $\lambda t$.

Since PP lies on the line segment OBOB, the points OO, PP, and BB are collinear. Thus, OP→\overrightarrow{OP} must be a scalar multiple of b\mathbf{b}.
Because a\mathbf{a} and b\mathbf{b} are non-parallel, the coefficient of a\mathbf{a} in OP→\overrightarrow{OP} must be 00.
1−3λtλ+1=0\frac{1 - 3\lambda t}{\lambda + 1} = 0
1−3λt=01 - 3\lambda t = 0
3λt=13\lambda t = 1
λt=13\lambda t = \frac{1}{3}

Answer

13\frac{1}{3}

5(c)

1. Use the result from part (b) and the given value of $\lambda$ to express $\overrightarrow{OP}$ in terms of $\mathbf{b}$.

From part (b), applying the Ratio Theorem gave OP→=1⋅a+λ⋅(tOC→)λ+1\overrightarrow{OP} = \frac{1 \cdot \mathbf{a} + \lambda \cdot (t\overrightarrow{OC})}{\lambda + 1}.
Since PP lies on OBOB, the a\mathbf{a} component evaluates to zero, leaving:
OP→=4λtλ+1b\overrightarrow{OP} = \frac{4\lambda t}{\lambda + 1}\mathbf{b}
We also deduced that λt=13\lambda t = \frac{1}{3}.
Given λ=5\lambda = 5, we substitute these values into the expression for OP→\overrightarrow{OP}:
OP→=4(13)5+1b\overrightarrow{OP} = \frac{4\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)}{5 + 1}\mathbf{b}
OP→=436b=29b\overrightarrow{OP} = \frac{\frac{4}{3}}{6}\mathbf{b} = \frac{2}{9}\mathbf{b}

2. Interpret the vector equation geometrically to find the required ratio of lengths.

The equation OP→=29b\overrightarrow{OP} = \frac{2}{9}\mathbf{b} implies that OP→=29OB→\overrightarrow{OP} = \frac{2}{9}\overrightarrow{OB}.
This means that the length OPOP is 29\frac{2}{9} of the total length OBOB.
Consequently, the length PBPB is 1−29=791 - \frac{2}{9} = \frac{7}{9} of OBOB.
The ratio of the lengths is therefore:
OP:PB=2:7OP : PB = 2 : 7

Answer

2:72 : 7

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