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Worked solution

Remove a parallel component from an area calculation

Referred to O, A,B have position vectors a=i−j+k\mathbf a=\mathbf i-\mathbf j+\mathbf k, b=i+2j\mathbf b=\mathbf i+2\mathbf j. C has position vector c=λa+μb\mathbf c=\lambda\mathbf a+\mu\mathbf b, where λ and μ are positive constants.

(i) Given the area of OAC is 126\sqrt{126}, find μ. marks

(ii) Given instead μ=4 and OC=53OC=5\sqrt3, find the possible coordinates of C. marks

[2012/I/5]

CJC · Review problems · Question 9

Answer

(i)μ=6; (ii)C=(5,7,1)C=(5,7,1) or (17/3,19/3,5/3)(17/3,19/3,5/3).

(i) Method 1: expand the symbolic cross product

126=12∣a×(λa+μb)∣=12∣λ(a×a)+μ(a×b)∣\sqrt{126}=\frac12|\mathbf a\times(\lambda\mathbf a+\mu\mathbf b)|=\frac12|\lambda(\mathbf a\times\mathbf a)+\mu(\mathbf a\times\mathbf b)|. The self-cross-product is zero, so this is μ2∣a×b∣\frac\mu2|\mathbf a\times\mathbf b|. Here a×b=(−2,1,3)\mathbf a\times\mathbf b=(-2,1,3), whose magnitude is 14\sqrt{14}. Thus 126=μ14/2\sqrt{126}=\mu\sqrt{14}/2 and μ=6, using μ>0.

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(i) Method 2: expand the coordinates first

c=(λ+μ,−λ+2μ,λ)\mathbf c=(\lambda+\mu,-\lambda+2\mu,\lambda). Direct calculation gives a×c=(−2μ,μ,3μ)=μ(−2,1,3)\mathbf a\times\mathbf c=(-2\mu,\mu,3\mu)=\mu(-2,1,3). Consequently 126=μ14/2\sqrt{126}=\mu\sqrt{14}/2 again, giving μ=6.

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(ii) Solve with the new value of μ

For μ=4, c=(λ+4,−λ+8,λ)\mathbf c=(\lambda+4,-\lambda+8,\lambda). Squaring ∣c∣=53|\mathbf c|=5\sqrt3 gives (λ+4)2+(−λ+8)2+λ2=75(\lambda+4)^2+(-\lambda+8)^2+\lambda^2=75, hence 3λ2−8λ+5=(λ−1)(3λ−5)=03\lambda^2-8\lambda+5=(\lambda-1)(3\lambda-5)=0. Both λ=1 and 5/3 are positive. Thus C=(5,7,1)C=(5,7,1) or (17/3,19/3,5/3)(17/3,19/3,5/3).

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Common mistakes

Keep the given positivity of μ when removing it from a magnitude.

Solution notes

Both printed methods for (i) and every equation for (ii) retained. No source figure.

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