GCSE Vectors 3. Write each vector in terms of a and/or b .

Express in terms of a and/or b :

AB b. ⃗
a. ⃗ FO c. ⃗ AO d. ⃗FD
Exercise 1 (Basic Addition/Subtraction) a
Lesson 2 Examples
1. State the value of each vector.

MK b. ⃗
a. ⃗ NL NK d. ⃗
c. ⃗ KN

4. Write each vector in terms of a and/or b . PQRS is a parallelogram. N is on SQ such that

SN : NQ=3 :2.
SQ in terms of a , b .
a) Write an expression for ⃗
b) Express NR in terms of a and b .
⃗

Test Your Understanding

2. Write each vector in terms of a and/or b . a. ZX

⃗
b. YW
⃗
c. XY
⃗
d. XZ
⃗
5. ABCDEF is a regular hexagon with centre
O. ⃗
FA =a and ⃗
FB=b .

a) Find ⃗AB in terms of a and b .

b) P is a point on AB such that AP: PB=3 :1.
BA b. ⃗
a. ⃗ AC c. ⃗
DB d. ⃗
AD
OP in terms of a and b , giving your
Find ⃗
answer in its simplest form.

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Further Examples 2. OA=a and ⃗
Again ⃗ OB=b . Y is a point such TM in terms of a and b giving your
b) Express ⃗
AX
A) Determine ⃗ that YB=2 AY answer in its simplest form.

5. OACB is a parallelogram. R is a point such

that AR: RB=2:3 . S is a point such that
BS :SC=1 :3. Determine:

Wh
at is:
OY
B) Determine ⃗
a. ⃗ AY c. ⃗
OY d. ⃗
YO

3. [June 2009 2H Q23]

AB in terms of a and b .
a) Find ⃗ a. ¿⃗ b. ⃗
BS c. ⃗
OS d. ⃗ RS
b) P is on AB such that AP: PB=3 :2. 6. In the diagram, M is the midpoint of CD ,
BP: PM =2 :1, ⃗ AB=x , and ⃗
AC= y and
1
OP= ( 2 a+3 b )
Show that ⃗ ⃗AD=z . Express each of (a) to (f) in terms of x ,
5
y and z .

Exercise 2 (Using Ratios)

1. OA=a and ⃗
In the following diagram ⃗ OB=b .
X is a point such that AX : XB=1: 4
4. [Nov 2010 1H Q27] M is the midpoint of OP .
DC b. ⃗
a. ⃗ DM c. ⃗
AM d. ⃗
BM
e. BP f. AP
⃗ ⃗

7. OACB is a parallelogram. M is the midpoint of

AB. X is a point such that BX : XC =1 :2.
Wh
at is:
AB
a. ⃗ AX c. ⃗
b. ⃗ OX d. ⃗
BX OM in terms of a and b .
a) Express ⃗

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 Determine: 8. M is the midpoint of BC .

AB b. ⃗
a. ⃗ BC c. ⃗
MB d. ⃗
MX e. OC
a. ⃗ XC
b. ⃗ AX
c. ⃗
XA f. CM g. XO
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
Determine the vectors:
OB b. ⃗
a. ⃗ BC c. ⃗ AM d. ⃗
OM

9. In the following diagram, X is a point such that

OX : XB=1: 3.

iii) M is the midpoint of DE . Express OABC is a parallelogram. P is the point on AC

FM in terms of a and b .
⃗ 2
Exercise 4 (Proof Questions) such that AP= AC .
iv) X is the point on FM such that 3
1.
such that FX : XM =4 :1. Prove
that C , X and E lie on the same i) OP . Give your
Find the vector ⃗
straight line. answer in terms of a and c .
ii) Given that the midpoint of CB is
2. M , prove that OPM is a straight
line.
OA=3 a and ⃗
3. ⃗ AQ=a and ⃗ OB=b and
1
BC= b . M is the midpoint of QB . Prove
⃗
CD=a , ⃗
⃗ DE=b and ⃗ FC =a−b 2
i) Express CE in terms of a and b .
⃗ that AMC is a straight line.
ii) FE is parallel to ⃗
Prove that ⃗ CD .

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