Math 75 Exercise Set 1: Vectors

1. Points A and B are opposite vertices of a rectangular parallelipiped having its faces parallel to the
coordinate planes. In each exercise
(a) sketch the gure (b) nd the coordinates of the
other six vertices
(c) nd the length of the diagonal
AB
i. A(2, 1, 3); B(4, 0, 1) ii. A(1, 1, 2); B(2, 3, 5)
2. Prove that the three points (1, 1, 3), (2, 1, 7), and (4, 2, 6) are the vertices of a right triangle and
nd its area.
3. Find the vertices of the triangle whose sides have midpoints at (3, 2, 3), (1, 1, 5), and (0, 3, 4).
4. Determine whether the graph of the given equation is a sphere, a point or the empty set.
(a) x
2
+ y
2
+ z
2
x y 3z + 2 = 0 (b) x
2
+ y
2
+ z
2
8x + 10y 4z + 13 = 0
5. Find the equation of the sphere satisfying the given conditions. Write the equation in general form.
(a) a diameter is the line segment having the endpoints at (6, 2, 5) and (4, 0, 7)
(b) contains the points (0, 0, 4), (2, 1, 3) and (0, 2, 6) and has its center in the yz plane.
6. Find the direction cosines of the vector V (

AB) and check the answers by verifying that the sum of
their squares is 1.
(a) A(2, 6, 5), B(2, 4, 1) (b) A(1, 3, 5), B(2, 1, 4)
7. Express the following vectors in terms of their magnitudes and direction cosines
(a) 2i 2j + k (b) 3i + 4j 5k
8. Find the unit vector having the same direction as

AB
(a) A(3, 0, 1), B(3, 8, 1) (b) A(8, 5, 2), B(3, 9, 4)
9. Find A B
(a) A= 4, 0, 2, B= 5, 2, 1 (b) A=3i 2j + k, B= 6i + 7j + 2k
10. If is the angle between A and B, nd cos
(a) A= 2, 3, B= 3, 2 (b) A=2i + 4j, B= 5j
11. Given A= 5i kj and B= ki + 6j, where k is a scalar. Find
(a) k such that A and B are orthogonal (b) k such that A and B are parallel
12. Let A= 4, 2, 4, B= 2, 7, 1, C= 6, 3, 0, D= 5, 4, 3
(a) A B + A C
(b) (A B)(B C)
(c) (A B)C
(d) (2A + 3B) (4C D)
(e) the scalar projection of A onto B
(f) the vector projection of D onto C
13. Find the cosines of the triangle having vertices at A(0, 0, 0), B(4, 1, 3), and C(1, 2, 3)
14. Prove by using vectors that the points (2, 1, 6), (2, 4, 5), and (1, 2, 1) are the vertices of a right
triangle . Find its area.
15. If A= 3i + 5j 3k, B= i 2j + 3k, and C= 2i j + 4k, nd the component of B in the direction
of A 2C.
1