A hint to get started
Use a projection foot to find a pyramid base area
OABC is the base of a pyramid where O is the origin. E is the highest point and D lies on OB with DE perpendicular to the base. The position vectors of A,B,C,E are respectively , , , and .
(i) Find angle AOE. marks
(ii) Find OD, the length of the projection of OE onto OB. Hence or otherwise show that D has position vector . marks
(iii) Show A,D,C are collinear. marks
(iv) Show OB is perpendicular to AC. Hence find the exact area of OABC in the form , where m is a constant to be determined. marks
[2016/DHS/Promo/11]
CJC · Review problems · Question 11
DE perpendicular to the base makes its foot D the projection onto OB.