N2013 P1 Q6

N2013 P1 Q6

7 marks
Past Year National Exams
Free

The origin \(O\) and the points \(A\), \(B\) and \(C\) lies in the same plane, where \(\overrightarrow{OA}=\mathbf{a}\), \(\overrightarrow{OB}=\mathbf{b}\) and \(\overrightarrow{OC}=\mathbf{c}\) (see diagram).

  1. Explain why \(\mathbf{c}\) can be expressed as \(\mathbf{c}=\lambda \mathbf{a}+\mu \mathbf{b}\), for constants \(\lambda \) and \(\mu \).[1]

The point \(N\) is on \(AC\) such that \(AN:NC=3:4\).

  1. Write down the position vector of \(N\) in terms of \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{c}\).[1]
  2. It is given that the area of \(ONC\) is equal to the area of triangle \(OMC\), where \(M\) is the mid-point \(OB\). By finding the areas of these triangles in terms of \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\), find \(\lambda \) in terms of \(\mu \) in the case where \(\lambda \) and \(\mu \) are both positive.[5]

Video Solution:

Default solution

Timothy Gan
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Answer:(i) Equation of plane \({OABC}\) can be expressed as \({\mathbf{r} = \lambda\mathbf{a} + \mu\mathbf{b}, \lambda \in R, \mu \in R}\). Since \({C}\) lies on the plane \({OABC}\), \({\mathbf{c} = \lambda\mathbf{a} + \mu\mathbf{b}}\) for some for constants \({\lambda}\) and \({\mu}\). (ii) \({\overrightarrow{ON} = \frac{4\mathbf{a} + 3\mathbf{c}}{4 + 3} = \frac{1}{7}(4\mathbf{a} + 3\mathbf{c})}\) (iii) \({\lambda = \frac{8}{7}\mu}\)

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