YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

Learning Objectives:

1 Scalar Product (Dot Product) (Pg. 3 – 10)

(i) Given two non-zero vectors a and b, I know that
 a  b  ____________ where  is the angle between a and b. 
 x1   x2 
if a   y1  and b   y2  , a  b  __________________ .
  

z  z 
 1  2
(ii) I can list the properties of scalar product. 
In particular, if a and b are two non-zero vectors,
 a  b is a scalar and a  b  b  a 
 a  a  __________ 
In general,
 ab  0  ___________________________ 
(iii) I can use scalar product to
 determine if two non-zero vectors are perpendicular to each other, 

 find the angle  between two non-zero vectors a and b. The 

formula is _____________,

 find the length of projection of v onto d. The formula is ________.

2 Vector Product (Cross Product) (Pg. 11 – 19)

(i) Given two non-zero vectors a and b, I know that

 a  b  _______________ where  is the angle between a and b 
and n̂ is a unit vector perpendicular to both a and b.
 x1   x2 
   
 if a   y1  and b   y2  , 
z  z 
 1  2
 x1   x2 
   
a  b   y1    y2  
z  z 
 1  2

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YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

(ii) I can list the properties of vector product. 

In particular, if a and b are two non-zero vectors,
 a  b is a vector and a  b  b  a 
 a  a  __________ , a null vector. 
In general,
 ab  0  ___________________________ 
(iii) I can use vector product to find the following:
 A vector perpendicular to two non-zero and non-parallel vectors a 
and b is _____.


 Area of triangle ABC ____________________________.

 Area of parallelogram ABCD 

 ___________________________________________

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1 Scalar Product (Dot Product)

1.1 Definition
Let  be the angle between two non-zero vectors a and b.
The scalar product (or dot product) of vectors a and b, written as a  b ,
is defined as
a  b  a b cos 

a
b b

b
a a

  is the angle between two vectors whose directions are either both pointing
outwards or both pointing inwards.
 0    180

1.2 Properties of Scalar Product

1. a  b is a scalar
2. a b = b a [commutative]
3. a  b  c   a  b  a  c [distributive over addition]
4.  a  b  a  b  a  b , for  
5. ma  nb  (mn) a  b , for m, n
2
6. aa  a since the angle between a and a is 0 , and cos 0  1

7. a  b  a  b  0 since cos90  0
8. a  b  0  either (i) a  0 or (ii) b  0 or (iii) a = b = 0
or (iv) if a  0 and b  0 , then a  b
Note:
 There is no division of vectors. Thus, Take note of the
cd difference between
o ab  cd  a 
b 0 and 0.
 a // b in the same direction, (i.e.   0 ) 0 is the null vector,
while 0 is a scalar
 a  b  a b since cos 0  1 ( 0  ).
 a // b in opposite direction, (i.e.   180 )
 ab  a b since cos180  1

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Learning Experience
Exploring the Properties of Scalar Product between Two Vectors with GeoGebra
(1) Scan the QR code to access the GeoGebra worksheet for the properties of
scalar product involving 2-dimensional vectors.
http://www.geogebra.org/m/rTpvURxZ
(2) Move the end point of each vector u and v to investigate the following:
 Under what circumstances is the scalar product zero?
 Under what circumstances is the scalar product positive? When is it
negative?
 When does each of the following result hold?
o u v = u v
o u v =  u v
 Choose u and v to be the same vector. What is the relationship between
u  u and u ?
(3) Extend your learning to 3-dimensional vectors!

1.3 Scalar Product of vectors given in Cartesian Form

 x1   x2 
 For 2-dimensional vectors,   .   = x1 x2 + y1 y2.
 y1   y 2 
 x1   x 2 
   
 For 3-dimensional vectors,  y1    y 2  = x1 x2 + y1 y2 + z1 z2.
z  z 
 1  2

 x1   x2 
   
Thus if a   y1  , b   y2  and  is the angle between a and b, then
z  z 
 1  2

a  b  a b cos   x1x2  y1 y2  z1 z2 .

i.e. there are two methods to calculate the scalar product between two vectors.

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Example 1:
Given that a  i  3j  2k and b  2i  j  4k . Evaluate
Video 2B.1
(a) a  b , (b) a   b  3a  ,
(c) a  0 , (d) b  b
Solution
 1  2  1   2   1  
          
(a) a  b   3    1 (b) a   b  3a    3    1  3  3  
 2   4   2   4   2  
          
 (1)(2)  (3)(1)  (2)(4) 1  5
 2 38    
  3  8 
 9  2   2 
   
 5  24  4
 33

Try This!
(c) (d)
 1  0 b b
   
a 0   3  0 2 2 2
    b
 2   0  b  b   1   1 or
   
 
2
4 4  22  (1) 2  42
0    
 4  1  16  21
 21
[Ans : (c) 0]
[Ans : (d) 21]

1.4 Uses of Scalar Product

1.4.1 To determine if two vectors are perpendicular
Let a and b be two non-zero vectors. Then
a  b  ab = 0 since a  b  a b cos90  0

Example 2:
If 3i   j  6k and (2 2 )i  j are perpendicular vectors, find the value(s) of .
Video 2B.2 Solution
3i   j  6k and (2 2 )i  j are perpendicular 6 2    0
 3   2 
2
 (6  1)  0
vectors       1   0 1
    0 or  
6  0  6
   

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Try This!
Given that a  2i  5j  3k , b  i  6j  k and c  3i  2 j+k , determine if the
following pairs of vectors are perpendicular:
(i) a and c (ii)  2a  b  and c
Solution

 2   3   2   1   3 
    (ii) (2a  b)  c   2  5    6     2 
(i) a  c   5    2       
 3   1    3   1   1 
   
 6  10  3  5   3
 7    
  4    2 
a  c  0  a and c are not perpendicular.  7   1 
   
 15  8  7
0
  2a  b  and c are perpendicular.

Example 3:
Given that a and b are two non-zero and non-parallel vectors. Show that
Video 2B.3
(i) if a  b and a  b are perpendicular, then a  b ,
(ii) if a  b  a  b , then a and b are perpendicular.
Solution
(i) a  b and a  b are perpendicular Try This!
 a  b   a  b   0 (ii) Hint : Using the property of dot
 a a  b a  a b  b b  0 product a  a  a 2 , thus
(a  b)   a  b   a  b 2
2 2
 a  b 0
(a  b)   a  b   a  b 2
2 2
a b
ab (since a  0 and b  0)
ab  ab
Squaring both sides,
2 2
ab  ab
(a  b)   a  b   (a  b)  (a  b)
a  a  2a  b  b  b  a  a  2a  b  b  b
2a  b  2a  b
4a  b  0
a b  0
Therefore a and b are perpendicular, since
a  0 and b  0 .

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 YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

1.4.2 To find the Angle between Two Vectors

Let a and b be two non-zero vectors.
a
The angle between a and b can be computed using scalar product:

a  b  a b cos , where  is the angle between vectors a and b O
a b b
 cos   , where 0    180
a b

Note:
 a  b  0   , the angle between vectors a and b, is an acute angle
a b
since cos   >0
a b
 a  b  0   , the angle between a and b, is an obtuse angle
a b
since cos   <0
a b

Example 4:
Video 2B.4 (a) If a  i  4j  k and b  2i + j  5k, find the cosine of the angle between a and
b.
(b) Find the angle between 2i + j  k and  i + k.
(c) The position vectors of points A and B relative to the origin O are
3i + 2j + k and j + 9k respectively. Calculate the size of the angle ABO.
Solution
(a) Let the angle between a and b be  .
1   2 
   
 4   1 
a b  1  5  245 11
cos   =     = =
a b 1  4 1  2 1  5
2 2 2 2 2 2
540 6 15

2  1 
   
(b) Let  be the angle between  1  and  0  .
 1  1
   
 2   1 
   
 1   0 
 1   1  3
cos       
22  12  (1) 2 (1) 2  02  12 6 2
   150

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 
(c) To find ABO , we need to take scalar product of BO and BA .
    3   0   3 
BA  OA OB   2    1    1  O
 1   9   8 
     
   0 
BO   OB   1 
 9  A B
 
 3   0 
   
 1    1 
 8   9 
cos ABO     
(3)  1  (8) 2 (1) 2  (9) 2
2 2

71

74 82
ABO  24.3 (nearest 0.1 )

Tutorial 2B Q1–2
1.4.3

1.4.3 To determine the Length of Projection and Projection Vector

 
Consider the vectors PQ = v and PR = d, where  is the angle between them.
Let N be the foot of the perpendicular from the point Q to PR.
Video 2B.5a

Q Q

v v



R R
P N N P
d d

PN  projection vector of v onto d (or component of v along d)

PN ≡ length of projection of v onto d (or length of component of v along d)

If  is acute, If  is obtuse,
PN  PQ cos PN  PQ cos    
 v cos    v cos 

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Consider the dot product v  d

Notice that v  d  v dˆ cos   v cos  (Recall: d  1 )

v d
Hence, PN  v  d 
d

v d
Length of projection of v onto d is : PN  v  d  .
d
(The modulus is necessary since length must be positive.)


Recall: PN  projection vector of v onto d (or component of v along d)
 
When  is acute, PN is in the same direction as d  PN   PN  dˆ .
 
When  is obtuse, PN is in the opposite direction as d  PN    PN  dˆ .


Projection vector of v onto d is :  
PN  v  dˆ dˆ (Notice no modulus)
v  dˆ is +ve when  is acute (above diagram on the left) and
is –ve when  is obtuse (above diagram on the right).

Example 5:
Let a  4i  3j  k and b  i  2j . Find the length of projection of a onto b.
Video 2B.5b
Solution
Length of projection of a onto b 46

a b 5
 a
b 10

5
4 1 b
   
  3    2 
 2 5 units
1 0
    2 5

5

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Try This!
The points P, Q and R have coordinates 1, 2, 1 ,  3,0, 3 and  2,5,3 respectively.
 
(i) Find the length of projection of PQ onto PR .
 
(ii) Find the projection vector of PQ onto PR .
Solution
3 1  2
            
2 1 1 2 1
      
PQ =  0    2    2  , PR =  5    2    3  PQ  PR   2    3   12
 3   1  2   3   1  4   2   4 
               

(i) (ii)

   
Length of projection of PQ onto PR Projection vector of PQ onto PR
    
PQ PR
12  PQ PR  
    PR
 26  
PR PR PR

12 1
 units
26 12 1  
  3
26 26  
 4
1
6 
   3
13  
 4
1
12 6 
[Ans : units] [Ans:   3  ]
26 13  
 4
2 Tutorial 2B Q3–4

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2 Vector Product (Cross Product)

2.1 Definition
The vector product (or cross product) of two non-zero vectors a and b, denoted by
a  b , is defined as

a  b  a b sin  nˆ ,
where  is the angle between vectors a and b ( 0    180 )
and n̂ is a unit vector perpendicular to the plane in which b

both a and b lie.
a

Note:
1. a  b will give a vector which is perpendicular to both a and b
2. Since nˆ  1 and sin  is positive for 0    180 , therefore
a  b  a b sin  .

2.2 Properties of Vector Product

1. a  b is a vector [Recall: a  b is a scalar]

2. vectors a  b and b  a are in opposite directions,

i.e., a  b =  b  a [Recall: a  b = b  a ] -

3. a  b  c   a  b  a  c [distributive over addition,

“similar to scalar product”]

4.  (a  b)   a   b = a   b  , for  

5. ma  nb   mn  a  b , for m, n 
2
6. a  a  0 since sin 0  0 [Recall: a  a = a since cos 0  1 ]

7. If either a  0 or b  0 , then a  b  0 , the zero vector.

[Recall: a  0  0 , the real number zero]

Note:
a. a // b  ab  0 since sin 0  0  sin 180
b. ab  0  Either (i) a  0, or (ii) b  0, or (iii) a  b  0,
or (iv) if a  0 and b  0 , then a // b.

c. a b  a  b  a b since sin 90  1 [Recall : a  b  a  b  0 ]

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 YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

2.3 Vector Product of vectors given in Cartesian Form

 x1   x2 
   
If a  x1i  y1j  z1k =  y1  and b  x2i  y2 j  z2k =  y2  , then
z  z 
 1  2
 x1   x2 
a  b =  y1    y2
  

 z   z 
 1   2 
 y1z2  z1 y2   y1z2  z1 y2 
   
    x1z2  z1x2   or  z1x2  x1z2  (MF26)
 xy yx  x y  y x 
 1 2 1 2   1 2 1 2

Example 6:
Given that a  2i  j  2k and b  i  3k , find
Video 2B.6
(a) ab, (b) ba, (c) aa.
Solution
(a)  3   3 
 2  1
   
(b) b  a  a  b    8    8 
ab   1 0  1   1 
 2   3     
   
 30 
  (c) a  a  0
  (6  2) 
 0 1 
 
 3
 
  8 
 1 
 

Note:
To verify that your answer for a  b is correct, calculate the scalar products
of the vector with each of the vectors a and b. Both should result in 0 since
the scalar product of perpendicular vectors is 0.

For instance, in Example 6(a),

3  2  3  1
       
 8    1   6  8  2  0 and  8    0   3  0  3  0 .
 1   2   1   3 
       

Ch 2B Pg 12 of 25
 YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

Try This!
Find a unit vector perpendicular to both a  2i  j  k and b  3i  4 j  k .
Solution
2 3 Therefore the unit vector will be
   
a  b   1   4 
 1   1  3   3 
   
1   1  
 1  4   3  5  5 .
    9  25  121   155  
  (2  3)    5   11   11 
 8  3   11 
     3   3 
1   1  
[Ans: 5 or  5 ]
155   155  
 11   11 
Tutorial 2B Q5 – 7

2.4 Uses of Vector Product

2.4.1 To find Area of a Triangle

B
1  
Area of ABC = AB AC sin 
2
1  
= AB  AC
2
1   A C
Area of ABC = AB  AC
2

Example 7:
The points A, B and C have coordinates 1, 2,1 , 1, 0,3 and  1, 2, 1 respectively.
Video 2B.7
Using a vector product, find the area of the triangle ABC.
Solution
Note: Extract the
0 0  2  1 common factor to
             
AB  OB  OA   2   2  1 , AC  OC  OA   0   2  0  simplify your working.
 2 1  2  1
       
 
0  
1   1
0
1 1     1    
Area of triangle  AB  AC  2  1  (2)  0   4  1   0 
2 2   1 2  1  1
1      
 1  0 
1  
 4  (0  1)   2 ( 1) 2  12  12
2  0  (1) 
 
 2 3 units 2

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YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

Try This!
Given that points A and B have position vectors 4i  j  5k and 2i  3j  k respectively,
find the area of the triangle OAB.
Solution
 4   2 
1 1   
Area of triangle  OA  OB   1    3 
2 2   
 5   1 
 1  (15) 
1  
  (4  10) 
2  12  (2) 
 
16 
1 
 6
2 
14 
8
  3 
7
 
 82  32  7 2
 122 units 2
[Ans: 122 units 2 ]

2.4.2 To find Area of a Parallelogram

C B
Area of parallelogram OABC
 base height
     h
= OA  OC sin   = OA  OC
  
O A
Alternatively,
1  
Area of parallelogram OABC = 2 Area of OAC = 2   OA  OC
2
 
Area of parallelogram OABC = OA  OC

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 YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

Example 8:
The points A, B and C have coordinates (4, 1, 0), (1, 1, 1) and (3, 0, 1) respectively,
Video 2B.8 and O is the origin.
(i) Show that OACB is a parallelogram.
(ii) Using a vector product, find the area of parallelogram OACB.

Solution
 4  1  3
      
Given: OA   1  , OB   1 , OC   0 
 
0 1 1
     
(i) Show: OACB is a parallelogram B C
  
BC  OC  OB
 3   1  4 
     
  0    1   1  O A
1  1  0
     

= OA
 
BC  OA  opposite sides parallel and equal length
 OACB is a parallelogram

(ii) Area of parallelogram OACB

  B C
= OA  OB

 4   1   1 
=  1    1   4  = 26 units2
O A
 0   1   3 
     

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YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

Try This!
[N2008/I/3]
 
Points O, A, B are such that OA  i  4 j  3k and OB  5i  j and the point P is such
that OAPB is a parallelogram.

(i) Find OP [1]
(ii) Find the size of angle AOB. [3]
(iii) Find the exact area of the parallelogram OAPB. [2]

Solution

   1 5 6

     
(i) OP  OA OB   4    1   3 
 3   0   3 
     

(ii)
a b  a b cos AOB
1 5 1 5
       
4  1  4  1 cos AOB
 3  0  3  0
       
1  26 26 cos AOB
1
cos AOB 
26
AOB  87.8

(iii) Area of parallelogram OAPB

 1   5   3 
     
  4    1   15 
 3   0   21 
     
 675  15 3
6 
[Ans: (i)  3  ; (ii) 87.8 ; (iii) 15 3 ]
 
 3 
 

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 YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

2.4.3 To find the Length of the Sides of a Right-Angled Triangle

 
For a right-angled triangle PQN, if PQ  v , PN is parallel to d and  is the angle
between vectors v and d, then

Q PN
cos    PN  v cos 
v
v NQ
sin    NQ  v sin 
v
Note that
 v d
P N v  d  v d cos   v cos  
d
d
vd
v  d  v d sin   v sin  
d
Hence, we have
v d
 Length of adjacent side, PN = v cos  =  v  dˆ
d
vd
 Length of opposite side, NQ = v sin  =  v  dˆ
d

Note:
 If PN has been computed, NQ can also be calculated using Pythagoras’ Theorem:
 PQ    PN 
2 2
NQ 

Example 9
The points A, B and C have coordinates (3, 1, 4), (5, 2, 4) and (2, 0, 1) respectively,
Video 2B.9
and O is the origin.
 
(i) Find the length of projection of BA onto BC .
 
(ii) Find the projection vector of BA onto BC .

(iii) Using vector product, calculate the length of perpendicular from A to BC .
Solution
2 A
      
3 5
(i) BA   1   2    3 
 4   4   8 
     
2 7
      
5
BC   0    2    2  
 1   4   5  B C
      N

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YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

 
Length of projection of BA onto BC is
 2   7 
     
BA  BC  3    2 
8  5
    14  6  40 10 78
    units
 78 13
BC (7)2  (2)2  52

  
(ii) Projection vector of BA onto BC is BN .
 7 
 
 2   7 
 10 78  5 10  
BN       2 
13 (7)2  (2) 2  52 13  5 
 

(iii) Let the foot of perpendicular from A to BC be N.

Length of perpendicular from A to BC is
 2   7   1 
     
 
BA  BC  3    2   46 
8  5  17 
     
NA    
BC (7) 2  (2) 2  52 78
1  ( 46) 2  ( 17) 2

 15  (16)  78
 
 (10  56)  401
 4  21   units
  13

78

Tutorial 2B Q8–11

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Annex Comparison between Scalar Product and Vector Product

Scalar Product (Dot Product) Vector Product (Cross Product)

a  b  a b cos  a  b  a b sin  nˆ , where n̂ is a unit vector

perpendicular to both a and b
a  b gives a scalar a  b gives a vector that is perpendicular to
both a and b
a  b  a b cos  a  b = a b sin 

a b = b a a  b = ba
a  b  c   a  b  a  c a  b  c   a  b  a  c
 a  b  a  b  a  b   a×b    a  ×b  a×  b 
ma  nb  (mn) a  b ma  nb   mn  a  b

aa = a
2 aa  0

ab  0  a  b  0  Either a  0 or b  0 or both

Either a  0 or b  0 or both or if a  0 and b  0 , then a // b
or if a  0 and b  0 , then a  b
a // b in same direction  a // b  a  b  0
ab  a b
a // b in opposite direction 
ab  a b

a  b  ab  0 a b  ab  a b

Ch 2B Pg 19 of 25
YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

Tutorial 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors


1 The angle between two non-zero vectors a and b is radians, and vector b is
3
perpendicular to a  b .
(i) Show that a  2 b .
(ii) If b is a unit vector, by considering (a  b)  (a  b) , or otherwise, find the
exact value of a  b .
Ans: 7
2 [N2001/II/Q15]
By expanding  b  c    b  c  , simplify b  c   b  c    b  c  . By taking
2 2

b  AC and c  AB , deduce the cosine formula for triangle ABC.

 2  2  2  
Ans: 2b  c , BC  AC  AB  2 AC AB cos A

3 (a) The angle between the vector  i  3j  6k and the vector i is 120 . Find
the exact value of the constant  .

(b) The position vectors of points A and B are given respectively by

OA  3i + j + 3k , OB  5i  4j+ 3k , where O is the origin. Show that

4
the cosine of angle AOB is equal to . Hence, or otherwise, find
38
the position vector of the point P on OB such that AP perpendicular
to OB .
5 
2 
Ans : (a)  15 , (b) OP   4 
5 
3 
4 The position vectors of the points A and B and are given by
a = 2i + 3j – 4k and b = 5i – j + 2k respectively, relative to the origin O. Find
(i) the length of the projection of b on a,
(ii) the projection vector of b on a (call it c ),
(iii) the vector d, where d  a and c  d  b .
Note: In the above, b has been resolved into vectors c and d which are
perpendicular to each other.
 2  147 
1 1   1  
Ans: (i) , (ii)  3  , (iii)  26 
29 29   29  
4   54 

Ch 2B Pg 20 of 25
YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

1  1 
   
5 If a   2  , b   0  and , find
 3 2
   
(i) ab , (ii) ba , (iii) a  (a  b) .
(iv) a unit vector perpendicular to both (a + 2b) and b.
Explain why b   a  b   0 .
4   4  4 
Ans: (i)  5  , (ii)   , (iii) 3 5 , (iv) 1  
5  3 5  5 
2   2  2 
     

6 [Specimen Paper/9758/I/Q6(a)]
The non-zero vectors a, b and c are such that a  b = c  a . Given that b  c , find
a linear relationship between a, b and c.
Ans: a  b  c for some  

7 [N2014/I/Q3]
(i) Given that a  b  0 , what can be deduced about the vectors a and b? [2]
(ii) Find a unit vector n such that n   i  2 j  2k   0 . [2]
(iii) Find the cosine of the acute angle between i  2 j  2k and the z-axis. [1]
1 
1  2
Ans: (ii)  2  , (iii)
3  3
 2 

8 The points A, B and C have position vectors given by a  2i  3j  4k,

b  5i  2 j  k, and c  3i  5j  2k respectively.
(i) Calculate the angle ABC, giving your answer to the nearest degree.
(ii) Find a vector perpendicular to both AB and BC .
(iii) Find the area of the triangle ABC.
(iv) The point P lies on AC such that AP : PC  2 : 3 .
Find the position vector of P.

 34   12 
   1 
Ans: (i) 98 , (ii) 13  , (iii) 21.5 units , (iv)  1
2

 23  5 
  8 

Ch 2B Pg 21 of 25
YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

9 [N2009/II/Q2]
Relative to the origin O, two points A and B have position vectors given by
a  14i  14 j  14k and b  11i 13j  2k respectively.
(i) The point P divides the line AB in the ratio 2 :1 .
Find the coordinates of P. [2]
(ii) Show that AB and OP are perpendicular. [2]
(iii) The vector c is a unit vector in the direction of OP . Write c as a column
vector, and give the geometrical meaning of a  c . [2]

(iv) Find a  p , where p is the vector of OP , and give the geometrical meaning
of a  p . Hence write down the area of triangle OAP. [4]

6  140 
1   
Ans: (i) 12, 4, 6  , (iii)  2  , (iv)  84  , (iv) 139 units
2

7   224 
3   

10

Referred to the origin O, the points A and B are such that OA  a and OB  b. The
point P on OA is such that OP : PA  1: 2, and the point Q on OB is such that
OQ : QB  3: 2. The mid-point of PQ is M (see diagram).
(i) Find OM in terms of a and b and show that the area of the triangle OMP
can be written as k a  b , where k is a constant to be found. [6]
(ii) The vectors a and b are now given by
a  2 pi  6 pj  3 pk and b  i  j  2k
where p is a positive constant, Given that a is a unit vector.
(a) find the exact value of p, [2]
(b) give the geometrical interpretation of a  b , [1]
(c) evaluate a  b. [2]

9
1 3 1 1 1 
Ans: (i) a  b , , (ii)(a) , (b) length of proj. of b onto a, (c)  7 
6 10 20 7 7 
8

Ch 2B Pg 22 of 25
YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

11 [modified J1980/II/Q5]
The position vectors of points A, B, C relative to origin O are given by OA  5i ,
OB  i  3k , OC  i  4 j .
A parallelepiped has OA, OB, OC as three of its edges, and the remaining vertices
are X, Y, Z and D as shown in the diagram.
X D
B Z

C
Y
O A
(a) Write down the position vectors of points X, Y, Z and D in terms of i, j, k,
and calculate the length of OD.
(b) Calculate the size of angle OZY.
(c) Using a vector product, find the area of the triangle AXB.
(d) Find the shortest distance from X to the line OA.
Hint: Let N be a point on the line OA. If XN is the shortest distance
required, then what is the angle between XN and OA?

Ans: (a) 2i  4j  3k , 6i  4 j , 6i  3k , 7i  4j  3k , 74 , (b) 74.4 ,

(c) 10.1 units2 (d) 5 units

Ch 2B Pg 23 of 25
YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

Supplementary Practice 2B
Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

1 The points A and B have position vectors given by a  i  2 j  2k and

b  2i  3j  6k respectively. The point P on AB is such that AP : PB   : 1   .
Show that the position vector of P is given by
p  (1   )i  (2  5 ) j  (2  8 )k
(i) Find the value of  for which OP is perpendicular to AB.
(ii) Find the value of  such that angles AOP and POB are equal.
5 3
Ans: (i)   ; (ii)  
18 10
2 [2015/HCI/Promo/Q9]
Relative to the origin O, the points A and B have position vectors a and b
respectively. The point P has position vector p  a  (1   )b , for 0    1 .
Show that A, B and P are collinear. [2]
Given that OA is perpendicular to OB and APO  90 . By using a scalar
2 2
product, show that (1   ) b   a . [3]
Hence by using a vector product, find the values of  if the area of the triangle
2 2
OBP is b . [4]
6
1 2
Ans:   or  
3 3
3 [2012/IJC/Promo/Q2]
Referred to the origin O, the points P and Q have position vectors 2i  j  2k and
i  2k respectively. The point M lies on PQ produced such that PM : PQ  3: 2 .
Find the position vector of M and hence find the size of angle POM, giving your
answer to the nearest 0.1 . [5]
Ans: 128.0

4 [2016/MJC/Promo/Q4]
Referred to the origin O , the points A and B have position vectors a and b such
that a  i  jk and b  2i  3k
The point C has position vector c given c  a  b, where  and  are constants.
(i) Find the exact area of triangle OAB. [3]
(ii) Given that OABC forms a parallelogram, write down the values of
 and  . [2]
(iii) Given instead that   2 and that OC  59 , find the possible coordinates
of C, leaving your answers in the exact form. [4]
14  13 1 19 
Ans: (i) ; (ii)   1 ,   1 (iii) C  ,  ,  or C  3, 7,  1
2 3 3 3

Ch 2B Pg 24 of 25
YIJC / 2022 JC1 H2 Math / Chapter 2B Scalar and Vector Products in Vectors

The diagram shows a triangle ABC with A( – 1, 2, 3), B( 0, 1, 2) and C(5, 5, – 3).
F is the foot of the perpendicular from B to AC, and G is the foot of
perpendicular from A to line BC. Find the lengths of
(i) AF and BF, [5]
(ii) AG and CG. [5]
9 72
Ans: (i) 1, 2 , (ii) ,
33 66
6 [2013/ACJC/P2/1]
Referred to the origin O, the points A and B are such that OA  a and OB  b ,
where a  2 and b is a unit vector. The midpoint of OA is M, and the point L on
AB is such that AL : LB  1: 2 .
(i) Give the geometrical meaning of
(a) b a [1]
(b) ba [1]
(ii) Find OL in terms of a and b. Hence find the area of triangle OAL in terms
of a and b. [3]
(iii) Given that LM is perpendicular to AB, show that a.b = k, where k is a constant
to be determined. [3]
2a  b 1
Ans : (ii) OL  , a × b , (iii) −2
3 6
7 [ACJC Prelim 9758/2017/01/Q5]
The points O, A and B are on a plane such that relative to the point O, the points
A and B have non-parallel position vectors a and b respectively.
The point C with position vector c is on the plane OAB such that OC bisects the
 a b 
angle AOB. Show that   c  0 . [2]
|a| |b|
The lines AB and OC intersect at P. By first verifying that OC is parallel to
a b
 , show that the ratio of AP : PB | a |:| b | . [6]
|a| |b|

Ch 2B Pg 25 of 25