N2016 P1 Q5

N2016 P1 Q5

Junior College 2
8 marks

The vectors \(\mathbf u\) and \(\mathbf v\) are given by \(\mathbf u=2\mathbf i-\mathbf j+2\mathbf k\) and \(\mathbf v=a\mathbf i+b\mathbf k\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants.

  1. Find \((\mathbf u+\mathbf v)\times(\mathbf u-\mathbf v)\) in terms of \(a\) and \(b\).[2]
  2. Given that the \(\mathbf i\)- and \(\mathbf k\)-components of the answer to part (i) are equal, express \((\mathbf u+\mathbf v)\times(\mathbf u-\mathbf v)\) in terms of \(a\) only. Hence find, in an exact form, the possible values of \(a\) for which \((\mathbf u+\mathbf v)\times(\mathbf u-\mathbf v)\) is a unit vector.[4]
  3. Given instead that \((\mathbf u+\mathbf v)\cdot(\mathbf u-\mathbf v)=0\), find the numerical value of \(|\mathbf v|\).[2]

Solution:

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Answer:(i) \(2b\mathbf i+4(b-a)\mathbf j-2a\mathbf k\) (ii) \(-2a\mathbf i-8a\mathbf j-2a\mathbf k\), \(a=\pm1/(6\sqrt2)\) (iii) \(3\).

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