YIJC / JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2A / Basic Properties of Vectors in Two and Three Dimensions 2022-2023

Chapter 2A
Basic Properties of Vectors in Two and Three Dimensions

Learning Objectives
Introduction (Pg. 2 – 4)
1
(i) I can distinguish between scalar and vector quantities. 
(ii) Given a point A, I know that the position vector of point A
relative to the origin O is ___. 

(iii) I can use the vector AB to calculate the distance between two 
points A and B .
(iv) I know that when two vectors are equal, they have the same 
_____________ and _______________.
2 Basic Vector Algebra (Pg. 5 - 6)
(i) Multiplication of a vector by a scalar 
1. I know that when ______, 𝜆𝐚 has the same direction as a.
2. I know that when   0 , 𝜆𝐚 has ____________ direction as a.

(ii) I can apply the following 3 laws when performing vector addition
and subtraction: 
1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
3 Unit Vector (Pg. 6)
Given a vector v , I know that the unit vectors parallel to v are
____ or ____. 

4 - 6 Vectors in 2D and 3D (Pg. 7 - 10)

(i) I know what i, j, k vectors are. 
(ii) Given a vector v , I can find a unit vector parallel to v . 
(iii) I can add, subtract vectors and multiply a vector by a scalar. 
7 Fundamental Results on Vectors (Pg. 11 – 20)

(i) For non-zero vectors a and b, when a is parallel to b , I can
express b in terms of a by writing b = ____, where k is a non-
zero scalar 
(ii) I know that three points A, B, and C are collinear ⇔
1. __________ and the common point is ___ OR
2. __________ and the common point is ___ OR
3. __________ and the common point is ___ .
(iii) I can apply Ratio Theorem to find the position vector of a point 
that divides a line segment in a given ratio.
(iv) For non-zero vectors a and b, when a is not parallel to b and

a + b = a + b, then ______ and _____ .

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1 Introduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3BhzYI6zXU
How vectors can be related to displacement, velocity,
acceleration and projectile motion.

1.1 Scalar and Vector Quantities

In Mathematics, one of the important distinctions that we make is between scalar

quantities and vector quantities.

 A scalar is a quantity which has only magnitude.

Examples: distance, speed, mass, time.

 A vector is a quantity which has both magnitude and direction.

Examples: displacement, velocity, force, acceleration.

1.2 Vector Notation

A vector can be represented by a drawn directed line segment. The arrowhead
indicates the direction of the vector while the length of the line indicates its
magnitude (or size).

A vector can be denoted in the following three ways.


v PQ

 In books and examination papers a vector is commonly shown as a bold lower

case letter v. The magnitude, or length of the vector is indicated by v or v .
Note:  When handwritten, the same vector is more commonly denoted by v , the same
This is lower case letter but with a “wavy line” underneath indicating that it represents
important! a vector. The magnitude of v is v .
 The third way is to label its initial point and its terminal point by two capital
letters. For example, the vector from a point P to a point Q can be denoted by
  
PQ . The magnitude of PQ is PQ .

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1.3 Position Vector

A position vector (or fixed vector) is defined relative to a given point, i.e.
constrained to a specific location.
B
b
For example:
O
a A
Relative to the origin O,
 
OA is the position vector of A and OB is the position vector of B.
Usually, position vectors of A, B, C are denoted by a, b and c (hand-written as
a , b and c ) respectively.

1.4 Equal vectors

Two vectors are said to be equal if and only if they have the same direction
and same magnitude.

For example:
(1) Given that PQRS is a square, S R
   
 PQ  SR and PS  QR
(Reason: same direction and magnitude)
P Q
 
Note: PQ is not equal to PS
(Reason: Not the same direction even though they have the same magnitude)

D C
(2) Given that ABCD is a parallelogram,
   
 AB  DC and AD  BC
A B
Point to note:

   
ABCD is a parallelogram  AB  DC (or AD  BC )
( if and onlyif )

1.5 Negative Vectors

If a is the vector from P to Q, then a is the vector from Q to P.

So, a is a vector with magnitude a and direction opposite to that of a.

Q
Q
  a
Thus QP   PQ . a
P
P

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1.6 Null (Zero) Vector

The zero vector (or null vector) has zero magnitude and no direction.
Geometrically it is a point and is denoted by 0 (hand-written as 0 ).

2 Basic Vector Algebra

2.1 Multiplication of a vector by a scalar

a a
2a

Let a be a non-zero vector, and  be a scalar.

Then for non-zero , a is a vector parallel to a and has magnitude  a .

 If  > 0, then a has the same direction as a.

 If  < 0, then a is in the opposite direction of a.
If  = 0, then a = 0, the zero vector.
For example,
2a is a vector in the same direction as a and twice its magnitude;
 12 a is a vector in the opposite direction of a and half its magnitude.

2.2 Addition of Vectors

(1) Triangle law
R
  
If a = PQ , b  QR, and c  PR,
  
then, PR  PQ QR P Q
i.e. c  a  b .
C
(2) Parallelogram Law
B
 
Let OA = a , OB = b .
  
Then OC  a  b , because AC  OB
where OC is the diagonal of the A
parallelogram OACB.
O
(3) Polygon law

a + b +c + d + e = f

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2.3 Subtraction of Vectors

The vector a  b is defined as the sum of the vectors a and b.
In other words,
a  b = a + (b)
Note:
  
A vector PQ can be expressed in terms of the position vectors, OP and OQ as
follows:
Q
  
PQ = PO OQ
 
=  OP OQ q qp
 
= OQ OP
=qp
P
p
     
Thus AB  OB  OA , QR  OR OQ etc. O

Try This!


1. What is the difference between AB and AB ?


AB is a scalar and refers to the magnitude of the vector AB .

2. 5b is a vector in the __________ direction as b but ____ times its magnitude.

3
 b is a vector in the ___________ direction of b and ____ times its magnitude.
2

 
3. Express CD and MN in terms of the position vectors of the points C, D, M, and N,
relative to the origin.

  
CD  OD OC
  
MN  ON  OM

S R
4. It is given that PQRS is a rhombus.
(i) Write down a pair of equal vectors.
 
(ii) Is PS  PQ ? Justify your answer.
P Q

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Solution
   
(i) PS  QR or SR  PQ
 
(ii) No, because their directions are different but PS  PQ (equal magnitude).

 
5. ABCDEF is a regular hexagon, and AB  p and CD  q . B C
  
Express BC , AE , BE in terms of p and q .
A
D
Solution

       F E
AE  AF  FE BE  BC  CD  DE

BC  p  q  q  ( p  q)  ( p  q)  q  p
 2q  p  2q Think out of
the hexagon 

3 Unit Vector
A unit vector is a vector with magnitude 1, i.e. if u is a unit vector, then u  1.

Note:
v
1. For any non-zero vector v, the unit vector in the direction of v is .
v
This vector is denoted by v̂ .
2. Any non-zero vector v can thus be written as v  v vˆ , where v gives the
magnitude and v̂ gives the direction.

Example: Consider a vector v such that v  3 .

v 1
Then vˆ   v.
v 3
v
1 1 1
Note that vˆ  v  v   3  1.
3 3 3

v  v vˆ  3vˆ .
3. The unit vectors parallel to v are v̂ (in the direction of v) and vˆ (in the
opposite direction of v). So there are two unit vectors parallel to v.

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4 Vectors in Two Dimensions

The Cartesian coordinates system uses x-axis and y-axis which are two
perpendicular axes in two dimensions. Vectors that are parallel to the coordinate
axes and have a magnitude of 1 are called base unit vectors.

i is the base unit vector in the positive x-direction.

j is the base unit vector in the positive y-direction.

1 0
Note that the unit vectors i =   and j =   are perpendicular to each other.
0 1 y
The position vector of P,
     B(0,b) P(a, b)
OP  OA AP  OA OB = a i  b j
 1  0  a 
Hence, p = OP = a i  b j = a    b   =   . p
0 1
      b 1
Using Pythagoras’ Theorem,
 j
OP  a  b2 2
x
O i 1 A(a,0)

5 Vectors in Three-Dimensions
For vectors in three dimensions, we introduce the z-axis, which is perpendicular to
both the x- and y-axes. k is the base vector in the positive z-direction.
1 0 0
     
Note that the unit vectors i =  0  , j =  1  and k =  0  in the x-, y- and z-directions
0 0 1
     
respectively, are mutually perpendicular to one another.

Let P (a, b, c) be any point in space, and p be the position vector of P.

          
Then, OP = p  OA AQ QP  OA OB OC , since AQ  OB and QP  OC
1 0 0  a 
       
= a i  b j  c k = a  0   b 1   c  0  =  b  .
0 0 1  c 
        z
Using Pythagoras’ Theorem, C(0,0,c)
 P(a, b, c)

 OQ    QP 
2 2
OP 

  OA    AQ     QP 
2 2 2
  1
k j y
 a 2  b2  c2 1 iO 1
B(0,b,0)
A( a,0,0) Q
x

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6 Algebra of Vectors in Two- and Three-Dimensions

vectors in 2-dimensions vectors in 3-dimensions
1  a a
OP = p = a i  b j =     
b OP = p = a i  b j  c k =  b 
c
  
Magnitude (or length) of vector OP , 
Magnitude (or length) of vector OP ,
 a
a   
OP = p =    a 2  b2 OP = p =  b   a 2  b2  c 2
b c
 
 
The unit vector in the direction of OP is The unit vector in the direction of OP is
a
p 1 a p 1  
pˆ =  pˆ =  b
  p a b c c
2 2 2
p a 2  b2 b  

Example: Example:
 3
  
 3 OP = p =   1 
OP = p =    4
 4   
3
 3 
32   4  = 5 p =  1  32   1   4   26
2 2 2
p =   
  4 4
 
p 1 3 
Unit vector, pˆ =   . 3
p 5  4  p 1  
Unit vector, pˆ =  1 .
p 26  
4
2 Equal Vectors: Equal Vectors:

a  p a  p
      a  p, b  q       a  p, b  q, c  r
b  q  b  q 
c  r 
   
3 Addition/Subtraction of Vectors: Addition/Subtraction of Vectors:
 x1   x2   x1  x2 
 x1   x2   x1  x2       
       y1    y2    y1  y2 
 y1   y2   y1  y2  z  z  z z 
 1  2  1 2 
Example: Example:
 2   12  10   1   2   3 
           
 3   1  2 
 2    12    10 
 2   12   14   2 7 9
           
 3   1  4 

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vectors in 2-dimensions vectors in 3-dimensions

4 Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar: Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar:

 a   a   a   a 
      , where  
b
   b    b    b  , where  
 c   c 
   
Example: Example:
 1    12 
 2   4  1   
2       2    1 
 3  6 2   
 2   1 

Try This!

1. Let u  5i  2j and v  2i  3j . Find

(i) u , (ii) v , (iii) û , (iv) u  v .

Solution

5  2 
(i) u     52  22  29 (ii) v     22  32  13
 2 3 

[Ans : 29 ] [Ans : 13 ]
(iii) u  1 (iv)
 5   2 
u  v    
 2   3 
7 
 
 5 
 72  52  74

[Ans :1]
[Ans : 74 ]

Is it correct to say that u  v  u  v ?

u  v  u  v . LHS = 74  29  13 = RHS

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 1  3
2. If a   0  and b   1  , find
 
2  4
   
(i) the unit vector in the direction of (a + b), (ii) 3 b  2a .

Solution
(i) (ii)
 1  3   2   3   1
         
a  b   0   1   1  3b  2a  3 1   2  0 
 2   4  6  4  2 
         
a  b  22  12  62  41 11
 
 3 
8 
The unit vector in the direction of a  b  
 2  112  32  82  194
ab 1  
  1
ab 41  
6

 2
1  
[Ans: 1 ]
41  
6 [Ans: 194 ]

3. The position vectors of the points P and Q are  i + 3j and 5i + 6j – k respectively.

 1 
Given that OP  OQ, find the values of  and  .
2
Solution

 1 
OP  OQ
2
  5 
  1 
  3    6 
 0  2   
   
5
   ,   0
2
5
[Ans:   ,   0 ]
2

Tutorial 2A Q1 – 2

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7 Fundamental Results on Vectors

7.1 Parallel Vectors
Given that a and b are non-zero vectors,

a and b are parallel  b = k a for some (non-zero) k  .

if and only if
Note:
 If a and b are parallel and in the same direction, then k is positive (k > 0).
 If a and b are parallel and in opposite directions, then k is negative (k < 0).
1 3
E.g.: If a   2  and b   6  , then vectors a and b are parallel since b  3a .
 
 1  3 
   

Example 1:
8
Find the possible vectors a if a is parallel to  1  and has the same magnitude
Video 2A.1  4
 
1
as  2  .
2
 
Solution
8 8 8
1 1 
The unit vector in the direction of  1  
 
1  1
 4 64  1  16   9  
   4  4
1
 
 2   1  2  2  3 .
2 2 2
8
 2  
  a is parallel to 1 implies â is either the same as,
 
 4
 
8
or negative of, the unit vector in the direction of  1  .
 4
 

  8  8   8  8
 1   1    1   1 
Possible vectors a are 3   1     1  and 3   1      1 
9 3  9 3 
  4    4   4    4

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Alternative Method 8 8

   
a is parallel to 1  a  k 1 for some k 
   
 4  4
   
8 1
   
a   2   12   2   22  9  3
2
a  k  1  for some k  ,
 4  2
   

8
  1 1
k  1   3  k 82  12  42  3  k   k  
 4 3 3
 

8 8
1  1 
Possible vectors a are  1  and   1  .
3  3 
 4 4

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Try This!
1
(a) Find a unit vector parallel to a where a   1 .
3
 
Find a vector of magnitude 5 units in the direction of a.
 p 1
(b) The vector   has a magnitude of 10, and is parallel to   .
q  3
Given that q > 0, find the values of p and q.
Solution
(a) (b)
a 1 
aˆ  A unit vector in the direction of   is
a  3
1  1  1 1  1 1 
1   1       
= . 1 = 1 . 12  32  3  10  3 
2 
1 1  3  3 
2 2
11  
  3 
1   p 10  1  1 
The required vector is 5aˆ 
5  
1 .       10  
q  10  3   3
11  
3  Since q  0,
 p 1 
   10  
q   3
 p  10 , q  3 10

1
[Ans: (i  j  3k ) or
11
1 5
 (i  j  3k ) , (i  j  3k ) ] [Ans: p  10 , q  3 10 ]
11 11

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7.2 Collinear Points

When 3 points A, B and C lie on the same straight line, we say that A, B and C are
collinear.
In the context of vectors, we have:
     
AB  k AC and AB  m BC and AC  n BC , where k, m, n are non-zero scalars.

C
B

A
To prove that three points are collinear, we need to
   
 show that AB / / BC , i.e. AB   BC for some non-zero   , and
 state that B is a common point.

Alternatively, we may show that

 
 AB / / AC and state that A is a common point, or
 
 AC / / BC and state that C is a common point.

Example 2:
Show that the points P(0, 2, 2), Q(4, 10, 18) and R(6, 14, 26) are collinear.
Video 2A.2 Solution

     
PQ  OQ  OP QR  OR  OQ
 4  0 6 4
       
  10    2    14   10 
 18   2   26   18 
       
4  2
   
 8    4
 16  8
   
4
1 
 8
2 
 16 
1 
 PQ
2

 
Since PQ / / QR and Q is a common point, P, Q and R are collinear.

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Try This!
  
If O, A, B, C are four points such that OA = 10 a, OB = 5 b, OC = 4 a + 3 b, show
that A, B and C are collinear .

Solution
  
AB  OB  OA
 5b  10a  5  b  2a 
  
AC  OC  OA
 4a  3b  10a  6a  3b  3  b  2a 
 3  
Comparing, AC  AB  AC / / AB
5
 
Since AB / / AC and A is a common point, A, B, and C are collinear.

7.3 The Ratio Theorem

In triangle AOB, if point P divides the line segment AB internally (i.e., P is between
A and B) in the ratio    , then Have you noticed the
P B
“criss-cross” pattern?
 a  b A  B
OP  .  P
  A

O
Note: O
  
 The vectors OA, OB and OP are all pointing away from the common point O.
Proof:
   P B
OP = OA AP 
   A
= OA AB


= a b  a

(   )a + b  a
=
 O
a  b
=
 

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 Midpoint Theorem
If M is the midpoint of AB, then AM : MB  1:1. Thus, using the Ratio Theorem,
we have
A M
 
 OA OB B
OM  . a
2 b
O
Example 3:
Relative to the origin O, points A and B have position vectors a and b respectively.
Find, in terms of a and b, the position vector of the point Y which divides AB in the
ratio 5 : 2 .
Draw a diagram to identify the
Solution “criss-cross” pattern
  5
 2 OA 5 OB A Y 2
OY  B
7
2 5 a
 a b b
7 7
O

Example 4:
The points A and B have position vectors 2i  4j 2k and 2i +2k respectively.
(a) Find the position vector of point M which is the midpoint of AB.
Video 2A.4
(b) Find the position vector of C on AB produced such that AB = 3BC.
Solution
(a) M is the mid-point of AB. B
Using Ratio Theorem, we have M
 
 OA OB A
OM  .
2

 2   2  
 1      O
OM   4    0  
2    
 2   2  
0
 
  2 
0
 

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(b) Given AB = 3BC, that is, AB:BC = 3:1

Using Ratio Theorem, B 1 C

  3
 OA 3 OC
OB  A
4
 2   2  
  1   
 0   4  4   3 OC 
 2  2  
  O

 8   2 
    
0   4  3 OC C is on AB produced. So extend
    the line segment AB to get point C
 8   2 
   

 10 
  
 4   3 OC
 10 
 

 10   5 
 1  2 
OC   4   2
3  3  
 10  5

Try This!
Points P and Q have position vectors p and q respectively. Find, in terms of p
and q, the position vectors of
(i) the mid-point of PQ,
(ii) the point X on PQ , such that, PX : XQ  2:1 ,
(iii) the point Y on PQ produced , such that PY  3QY .
pq p  2q 3q  p
[Ans: (i) (ii) (iii) ]
2 3 2
(i)
O Note:
It is important to draw
diagrams for each case to
ensure that the ratio
theorem is applied
P 1 M 1 Q correctly.

 
 OQ  OP pq
Let M be the midpoint of PQ  OM  = .
2 2

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(ii) O

P 2 X 1 Q

 
 OP  2 OQ p  2q
X divides the line segment PQ in the ratio of 2 :1  OX   .
2 1 3

(iii)
O

P 2 Q 1 Y
 
 OP  2 OY
Q divides the line segment PY in the ratio of 2:1=> OQ 
3
 
 3 OQ  OP 3q  p
 OY   .
2 2

7.4 Non-parallel vectors

For non-zero and non-parallel vectors a and b,
a + b = a + b
implies
 =  and  = (as if “equating coefficients of a and b”)

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Example 5: [9758 Specimen Paper/Q3(b)]

Video 2A.5

 
With reference to origin O, the points A, B, C and D are such that OA  a , OB  b
 
AC  5a , and BD  3b . The lines AD and BC cross at E (see diagram).

(i) Find OE in terms of a and b. [6]

(ii) The point F divides the line CD in the ratio 5:3. Show that O, E and F are
collinear, and find OE:OF. [4]

Solution

(i)
  
BC  b  6a and BE   BC for some non-zero  Use
   (I) B, E and C are collinear,
AD  a  4b and AE   AD for some non-zero 
and
At E , a    a  4b   b    b  6a  (II) A, E and D are collinear
Rearranging, we have a 1     4b  6a  b 1    to get 2 different expressions

Since a and b are non-zero and not parallel to each other, for OE in terms of a and b,
1    6 ---- (1) then “equate coefficients”.
4  1   ---- (2)
5 3
Solving, we have  = ,  .
23 23
 5 18 20
 OE  a   a  4b   a  b
23 23 23
(ii)
C 5 F 3
D
Draw a diagram to identify the
“criss-cross” pattern for Ratio

O Theorem to find OF .
By Ratio Theorem,
 
 5 OD  3 OC 20b  18a 18 20 23  18 20 
OF    a  b   a  b
8 8 8 8 8  23 23 

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 23 
 OF  OE
8
And since O is a common point, hence O, E and F are collinear.
OE : OF  8: 23

Tutorial 2A Q3 – 6

Learning Experience
Video 2A.LE

A median of a triangle is a line segment from a vertex to the midpoint of the

opposite side (as shown in the dotted lines in the diagram below).

Prove that the three medians of a triangle intersect one another at two thirds the
distance from the vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side.
P
a b

A B
By Ratio Theorem,
1  1
PC  (1   )b    a   a  (1   )b
2  2
1  1
PC    b   (1   )a  (1   )a  b
2  2
Note that a and b are non-parallel.
Comparing,
1
a:   1    2    2 ...(1)
2
1
b: 1        2  2 ...(2)
2
2 2
By GC,   ,  
3 3
Hence, BC : CM 1  2 :1 and AC : CM 2  2 :1
1 12  2 1
PC  a  (1   )b    a  1   b  (a  b)
2 23  3 3
1 3
PM 3  (a  b)  PC . i.e. PM 3 / / PC and P is a common point
2 2
Thus P, C and M 3 are collinear and PC : CM 3  2 :1 (proven)
The medians of a triangle are concurrent, that is, the 3 medians of a triangle
intersect at a common point, such that the common point of intersection is at two
thirds the distance from the vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side.

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Tutorial 2A
Basic Properties of Vectors in Two and Three Dimensions
1 [N2004/I/Q3]
Referred to an origin O, the position vectors of four non-collinear points A, B, C and
W D are a, b, c and d respectively. Given that a  b  d  c , show that ABCD is a
parallelogram. [2]

V Given also that a  c  b  d , identify the shape of the parallelogram ABCD,

justifying your answer. [2]
Ans: Rectangle

2 The position vectors of the points A, B and C are given by a = 2i + 3j – 4k,

b = 5i – j + 2k, c = 11i + j + 14k respectively. Find
~

(i) a unit vector parallel to AB , [2]
~
(ii) the position vector of the point D such that ABCD is a parallelogram, [2]

~ the exact values of  if BC  10 2.
(iii) [3]
3  3   8 
1   1    
Ans: (i)  4  or   4  , (ii)  4    , (iii) 1  2 5
61   61    8 
6  6   

 4  5  2   4 
       
3 The position vectors of the points P, Q, R, S and T are  3  ,  2  ,  2  ,  4  and
 1  2   3   3 
       
5
 
and  5  respectively.
6
 
 
(i) Show that the vectors PQ and RS are parallel. [2]
(ii) Show that R, S and T are collinear and state the ratio RS: ST. [3]
Ans: (ii) 2: 1

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4 [2016/MI/Prelim/I/Q3 (Modified)]
Points A and B have coordinates  3, 1, 2  and 1, 5, 4  . The point C lies on
AB produced such that AC : BC  3: 2 . Find the position vector of C . [2]
Determine the position vector of point D such that OADC is a parallelogram. [4]
 3   0 
   
Ans:  17  ,  16 
 8   10 
   

5 [2014/PJC/Prelim/I/Q3(i), (ii) modified]

Relative to the origin O, the points A, B and C have position vectors a, b and 3a
respectively. Point P lies on AB such that AP : PB  1: 2 and point Q lies on OP
produced such that 5OQ  9OP .

(i) Find the position vector of Q in terms of a and b. [2]

(ii) Show that Q lies on BC and hence state the ratio BQ : QC . [3]
3
Ans: (i) (2a  b) , (ii) 2 : 3
5

6 [2017/AJC/Promos/Q9 Modified] C
With reference to the origin O, the points A and
B have position vectors a and b respectively, A
where a and b are not parallel. X
C lies on OA produced with OC : AC  3:1 and a

D divides OB in a ratio of 2 : 3 .
O B
X is the point of intersection of AB and CD. D b

9 2
(i) Show that OX  a b. [5]
11 11
(ii) Given further that E divides CB in a ratio of 2 : 9 , determine if O, X and E are
collinear. [2]

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Supplementary Practice 2A
Basic Properties of Vectors in Two and Three Dimensions

1 [2016/MI/Prelim/I/Q3 (Modified)]
Referred to an origin, the points A and B have position vectors a and b
respectively. A point C is such that OACB forms a parallelogram. Given that M
is the mid-point of AC, find the position vector of point N if M lies on ON
produced such that OM : ON is in the ratio 3:2.
Hence show that A, B and N are collinear. [4]
1
Ans:  2a  b 
3

2 [2016/SRJC/Prelim/I/Q6(b)(i)]
Relative to the origin O, the points A, B, C and D have position vectors a, b, c
and d respectively. It is given that λ and μ are non-zero numbers such that
a  b  c  0 and     1 , show that A, B and C are collinear. [3]

3 [2013/RI/Prelims/I/Q5]
OABC is a trapezium such that OA is parallel to CB, and CB : OA = k : 1 , where
k is a positive constant, and k  1 .
 
Given that OA = a, OB = b, and X and Y are the midpoints of OB and AC
respectively, find the following vectors in terms of k, a and b

(i) OC , [1]

(ii) OY . [2]
Hence show that XY is parallel to OA. [2]

It is given that OB and AC intersect at the point D. Find the ratio, in terms of k,
between the area of the triangle XYD and the area of the triangle BCD. [2]
  1 1 k
a. , the required ratio is 1  k  : 4k 2
2
Ans: (i) OC  b  ka , (ii) OY  b 
2 2

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4 The position vectors of A and B referred to a point O are a and b respectively.

Find an expression for the position vector of L, the point on AB between A and B
such that AL : LB  1: 2 . [1]
If the point C with position vector c (referred to O) is such that O is the mid-point
of CL, prove that 2a  b  3c  0 . [1]
M is the point on CB between C and B such that CM : MB  1: 3 . Show that AOM
is a straight line, and find the ratio AO : OM . [2]
N is the point on AC such that NOB is a straight line. Find the ratio AN : AC . [3]
1
Ans:  2a  b  , 2:1, 3:5
3

5 H

In the above, ABCD is a parallelogram. E, F, G and H are the mid-points of the

sides of the parallelogram.
Show that the mid-points of the sides of the parallelogram also form a
parallelogram. [3]

6 [2014/NYJC/Promos/I/Q4(i), (ii)]
3 1
The points A, B and C have position vectors a, b and a  b respectively and
2 2
O, A and B are non-collinear. The point P on AB is such that AP : PB =  :1  
and the point P on OC is such that OP : PC =  :1   .

(i) Express OP in terms of , a and b. [1]

(ii) By expressing OP in terms of , a and b, find the values of  and . Hence
show that P is the midpoint of OC . [3]
1 1
Ans: (i) 1    a  b , (ii)   ,  
4 2
7  
Referred to the origin O, the points A and B are such that OA  a and OB  b
where a and b are non-parallel vectors. It is also given that D is the midpoint of
OA and the point C is on OB produced such that OB : BC= 1 : k1, for some constant
k > 1. M is the point of intersection of the line AB and CD.

Find OM in terms of k, a and b . [4]

Ans:
 k  1 a  kb
2k  1

Ch 2A Pg 24 of 24