Questions

Q1.

The plane Π1 has equation x − 2y − 3z = 5 and the plane Π2 has equation 6x + y − 4z = 7

(a) Find, to the nearest degree, the acute angle between Π1 and Π2
(3)
The point P has coordinates (2, 3, −1). The line l is perpendicular to Π1 and passes through the point P.
The line l intersects Π2 at the point Q.

(b) Find the coordinates of Q.

(4)
The plane Π3 passes through the point Q and is perpendicular to Π1 and Π2

(c) Find an equation of the plane Π3 in the form r.n = p

(4)

(Total for question = 11 marks)

(Q05 6669/01, June 2017)

Q2.

With respect to a fixed origin O, the lines l1 and l2 are given by the equations

where λ and μ are scalar parameters.

The lines l1 and l2 intersect at the point X.

(a) Find the coordinates of the point X.

(3)
(b) Find the size of the acute angle between l1 and l2, giving your answer in degrees to 2 decimal places.
(3)

The point A lies on l1 and has position vector

(c) Find the distance AX, giving your answer as a surd in its simplest form.
(2)

The point Y lies on l2. Given that the vector is perpendicular to the line l1

(d) find the distance YA, giving your answer to one decimal place.
 (2)

The point B lies on l1 where =2 .

(e) Find the two possible position vectors of B.

(3)

(Total for question = 13 marks)

(Q02 6666/01, June 2017)

Q3.

The points A, B and C have position vectors , and respectively.

(a) Find a vector equation of the straight line AB.

(2)
(b) Find a cartesian form of the equation of the straight line AB.
(2)
The plane II contains the points A, B and C.

(c) Find a vector equation of II in the form r.n = p.

(4)
(d) Find the perpendicular distance from the origin to II .
(2)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

(Q05 6669/01, June 2015)

Q4.

The plane Π1 has vector equation r. =5

The plane Π2 has vector equation r. =7

(a) Find a vector equation for the line of intersection of Π1 and Π2, giving your answer in the form r = a +
λb where a and b are constant vectors and λ is a scalar parameter.
(6)
The plane Π3 has cartesian equation

x − y + 2z = 31

(b) Using your answer to part (a), or otherwise, find the coordinates of the point of intersection of the
planes Π1, Π2 and Π3
(3)

(Total 9 marks)

(Q07 6669/01/R, June 2014)

Q5.
Figure 1 shows a pyramid PQRST with base PQRS.

The coordinates of P, Q and R are P (1, 0, –1), Q (2, –1, 1) and R (3, –3, 2).

Find

(a)
(3)
(b) a vector equation for the plane containing the face PQRS, giving your answer in the form r.n = d.
(2)
The plane Π contains the face PST. The vector equation of Π is r. (i – 2j – 5k) = 6.

(c) Find cartesian equations of the line through P and S.

(5)
(d) Hence show that PS is parallel to QR.
(2)
Given that PQRS is a parallelogram and that T has coordinates (5, 2, –1),

(e) find the volume of the pyramid PQRST.

(3)

(Total 15 marks)

(Q04 6676/01, June 2008)

Q6.
The lines l1 and l2 have equations
If the lines l1 and l2 intersect, find

(a) the value of a ,

(4)

(b) an equation for the plane containing the lines l1 and l2 , giving your answer in the form az + by + cz + d
= 0, where a, b, c and d are constants.

(4)

For other values of a , the lines l1 and l2 do not intersect and are skew lines.

Given that a = 2,

(c) find the shortest distance between the lines l1 and l2 .

(3)
(Total 11 marks)

(Q15 6676/01, June 2009)

Q7.
The plane has vector equation

(a) Find an equation of in the form r.n = p, where n is a

vector perpendicular to and
p is a constant.
(5)
The point P has coordinates (6, 13, 5). The line l passes through P and is perpendicular to

. The line l intersects

at the point N.

(b) Show that the coordinates of N are (3, 1, −1).

(4)

The point R lies on and has coordinates (1, 0, 2).

(c) Find the perpendicular distance from N to the line PR. Give your answer to
3 significant figures.
(5)
(Total 14 marks)

(Q03 6669/01, June 2010)

Q8.

The plane Π1 has vector equation

r.(3i − 4j + 2k) = 5

(a) Find the perpendicular distance from the point (6, 2, 12) to the plane Π1
(3)
The plane Π2 has vector equation

r = λ(2i + j + 5k) + μ(i − j − 2k),

where λ and μ are scalar parameters.

(b) Find the acute angle between Π1 and Π2 giving your answer to the nearest degree.
(5)
(c) Find an equation of the line of intersection of the two planes in the form r × a = b,where a and b are
constant vectors.
(6)
(Total 14 marks)

(Q07 6669/01, June 2013)

Mark Scheme

Q1.
 (Q05 6669/01, June 2017)

Q2.
 (Q02 6666/01, June 2017)

Q3.
 (Q05 6669/01, June 2015)

Q4.
 (Q07 6669/01/R, June 2014)

Q5.
 (Q04 6676/01, June 2008)

Q6.
 (Q15 6676/01, June 2009)

Q7.
 (Q03 6669/01, June 2010)

Q8.
(Q07 6669/01, June 2013)