Porisma

A hint to get started

Connect a cross-product relation to areas and a nonzero linear combination

Relative to the origin OO, three distinct fixed points AA, BB and CC have position vectors a\mathbf a, b\mathbf b and c\mathbf c respectively. It is known that b\mathbf b is a unit vector, ∣a∣=3|\mathbf a|=3, ∣c∣=2|\mathbf c|=2 and the angle AOCAOC is 60∘60^\circ.

(i) State the geometrical interpretation of ∣b⋅c∣|\mathbf b\cdot\mathbf c|. mark

It is further given that a×2b=b×c\mathbf a\times2\mathbf b=\mathbf b\times\mathbf c.

(ii) Find the ratio of the area of triangle AOBAOB to the area of triangle BOCBOC. marks

(iii) Show that 2a+c=kb2\mathbf a+\mathbf c=k\mathbf b where k∈Rk\in\mathbb R, k≠0k\ne0.

By considering (2a+c)⋅(2a+c)(2\mathbf a+\mathbf c)\cdot(2\mathbf a+\mathbf c), find the exact values of kk. marks

[2016/HCI/Promo/7]

CJC · Discussion · Question 12

Move all cross products to the same side and use antisymmetry before factoring.

Read the worked solution