Tutorial Questions and Solutions for MAT122

1. If the magnitudes of vectors a and b are 3 2 units and 12 units respectively, and the
angle between them is /4 radians, find the dot product of a and b .
SOLUTION:
We use the definition
a b = |a||b| cos
where is the angle between the vectors a and b
So, we have
a b = |a||b| cos(/4)
= 3 2 12 2
2
= 36
2. Find the center and radius of the sphere: x 2 + y 2 + z 2 6 y + 8 z = 0 .
SOLUTION
The coordinates of the center and radius of a sphere can be determined the same way we
find the center and radius of a circle. This can be achieved by completing the squares on
the x-, y-, and z-terms and writing each quadratic as a squared linear expression. Write the
equation in standard form and read off the center and radius.
For the given sphere here, we proceed as follows:
x2 + ( y 2 6 y) + ( z 2 + 8 z ) = 0
2
2
2
2
2
6 2
4
6 8
x + y 6 y + + z + 8z + = 0 + +

2
2
2 2

( x 0) 2 + ( y 3) 2 + ( z + 4) 2 = 0 + 9 + 16 = 25
( x 0) 2 + ( y 3) 2 + ( z + 4) 2 = 52
Comparing this with the standard form equation of a sphere, we see that the coordinates
of the center are (0, 3, -4) and the radius is 5.
3. Find the perimeter of the triangle with vertices A(3, 1, 2), B(2, -1, 3) and C(4, 3, 1).
SOLUTION:
2

AB = (2 3) 2 + (1 1)2 + (3 2)2 = (1) 2 + (2)2 + 12 = 6

BC = (4 2)2 + (3 (1)) 2 + (1 3) 2 = (2)2 + (4) 2 + (2)2 = 24
CA = (3 4)2 + (1 3) 2 + (2 1)2 = (1) 2 + (2)2 + (1) 2 = 6
Thus, the perimeter of the triangle ABC is the sum of lengths of the three sides:
P = 6 + 24 + 6 = 2 6 + 24 = 2 6 + 2 6 = 4 6
4. A force of 9 newtons is applied in the direction of the vector a = i + 2 j 2k . Express the
force F as a product of its magnitude and direction.
SOLUTION:
a
The force vector has magnitude 9 and direction
, therefore
a

F=9

a
i + 2 j 2k
i + 2 j 2k
1 2 2
=9
=9
= 9 i + j k
2
2
2
a
3
3 3 3
1 + 2 + (2)

5. Express the vector 5u 2 v in the form a = a1i + a2 j + a3k if u = 2,1, 2 and u = 1,1,1 .
SOLUTION:
5u 2 v = 5 2,1, 2 2 1,1,1 = 10 2,5 2, 10 2 = 8,3, 12 = 8i + 3j 12k
6. Find the cosine of the angle between the vectors u = 2i + 2 j + k and v = 2 i + 10 j 11k .
SOLUTION:
u i v = (2 i + 2 j + k ) i(2 i + 10 j 11k ) = 2(2) + 2(10) + 1( 11) = 13

u = 2 2 + 2 2 + 12 = 9 = 3
v = 2 2 + 10 2 + ( 11) 2 = 225 = 15

cos =

ui v
13
13
=
=
u v 3(15) 45

7. If u = 3i + 3 j + 3k and v = 4i + 2 j + 6k , find projv u .

SOLUTION:
ui v
projv u = 2 v
v
But u i v = 3(4) + 3(2) + 3(6) = 36 ;
2

v = 42 + 22 + 62 = 56 v = 56.
Thus,
ui v
36
9
9
projv u = 2 v = (4i + 2 j + 6k ) = (4i + 2 j + 6k ) = (2i + j + 3k )
56
14
7
v
8. Find the angle between the two vectors given by a = 3 j 3k and b = 2i + 2 j k .
SOLUTION
We can use the dot product of two vectors to find the required angle:
aib
cos =
.
aib
aib = ( 3j 3k )i(2i + 2 j k ) = 0(2) + 3(2) + (3)(1) = 9 .
Also, a = 3j 3k = 32 + (3) 2 = 18 = 3 2 ;

b = 2i + 2 j k = (2) 2 + 22 + (1) 2 = 9 = 3
Thus, the cosine of the angle between the two vectors is obtained as follows:
aib
9
1
2
cos =
=
=
=
a i b (3 2)(3)
2
2

 2
giving = cos 1
2 = 4 radians

9. Given a ABC with vertices A = (2, 4, 1), B = (3, 0, 9) and C = (1,4, 0), find the angle
BAC .
SOLUTION

AB = 3 2, 0 4, 9 1 = 1, 4,8 = i 4 j + 8k

AC = 1 2, 4 4, 0 1 = 1, 0, 1 = i + 0 j k
 
AB i AC
We use dot product formula, i.e., cos =  
AB AC
 
But AB i AC = 1( 1) + ( 4)(0) + 8( 1) = 9;


AB = 12 + ( 4) 2 + 82 = 9; AC = ( 1) 2 + (0) 2 + ( 1) 2 = 2.
Hence,

 
AB i AC
9
1
2
cos =   =
=
=
.
2
2
AB AC 9 2

Therefore,

= cos 1

2 3
.
=
2 4

10. If the direction angles of the vector a = 2i + 5j + 4k are the angles , , and . Then the
direction cosines of vector a are, respectively.
SOLUTION
a = 2 2 + 52 + 4 2 = 45 = 3 5

cos =

, cos =

, cos =

3 5
3 5
3 5
11. The magnitudes of two vectors a and b are a = 20 units and b = 12 units. Find the largest
and smallest possible values for the magnitude of the resultant vector R = A + B?
12. Find the vector projection of a = 2i + 2 j + k onto b = 2i + 10 j 11k .
SOLUTION
The vector projection of a onto b is given by the formula
aib
projb a = 2 b
b

We find

aib = 2(2) + 2(10) + 1(11) = 13

b = 22 + 102 + (11) 2 = 4 + 100 + 121 = 225 = 15
aib
13
projba = 2 b =
( 2i + 10 j 11k )
b
225

13. Given the two vectors a = 2i + 2 j + k and b = 2i + 10 j 11k , calculate the scalar
component of a in the direction of b , i.e., the scalar projection of a onto b .
SOLUTION
The scalar component of a in the direction of b is given by
a cos =

aib
b
2i + 10 j 11k
= ai = (2i + 2 j + k )i

b
b
15

2 11
2
2
2 11 13
= (2i + 2 j + k )i i + j k = 2 + 2 + 1
=
15 3 15
15
3 15 15
14. If vector a has magnitude a = 15 units and vector b has magnitude b = 5 units, what
are the largest and smallest possible magnitudes for the vectors a + b ?
SOLUTION
If the two vectors point in the same direction, the magnitude of a + b is 20 units. If the
vectors point in the opposite direction, the magnitude of their sum is 10 units. However, if
the vectors are perpendicular, then a + b can be viewed as the hypotenuse of a right triangle
with sides a and b, so it has length 152 + 52 = 250 = 5 10 15.8 units. Thus, the largest
magnitude of a + b is 20 units while the smallest magnitude is 10 units. (B)
15. Find the equation of the sphere with endpoints of a diameter (4, 3, 1) and (-2, 5, 7).
x2 + y2 + z 2 4 x + 6 y + 8z 7 = 0
Solution: Using the midpoint formula we can find the center and using the distance
formula we can find the radius.
4 + 2 3 + 5 1 + 7
Center =
,
,

2
2
2
= (1, 4, 4 )
Radius =

( 4 1) + ( 3 4 ) + (1 4 )
2

= 9 +1+ 9
= 19
Thus the equation is:

( x 1) + ( y 4 ) + ( z 4 )
2

= 19 or x 2 + y 2 + z 2 2 x 8 y 8 z + 14 = 0

16. A constant force of (50i 25 j) N moves an object in a straight line from the point (3, 5)
to another point (6, -5). Calculate the work done by the force.
SOLUTION:

The displacement vector is D =< 6 3, 5 5 >=< 3, 10 >= 3i 10 j . Also, the force, F is

given by F = 50i 25 j . Hence, we calculate the work done by using dot product as follows:

W = FiD = ( 50i 25 j) ( 3i 10 j) = 50(3) + (25)(10) = 400

17. A force is given by a vector F = 7i + 2 j + 5k and moves a particle from the point
A(4,
5, 3) to the point B(8, 10, -2). Compute the work done by the force. (Assume the unit of
length is meters and the magnitude of the force is measured in newtons.)
SOLUTION

The displacement vector is D = AB = < 8 4,10 5, 2 3 > = < 4,5, 5 >
So, using dot product definition, the work done is:
W=FD
= 7, 2, 5 4, 5, -5
= 28 + 10 - 25 = 13 J
18. How much work does it take to slide a crate 25 m along a loading dock by pulling on it
with a 100 N force at an angle of 30 from the horizontal?
SOLUTION:
Let F and D be the force and displacement vectors.
Then, the work done is:
W = F D = |F||D| cos 30
= (100)(25) cos 30
3
= 2500
2
= 1250 3 J
19. Find the parametric equations for the line through (3, -4, -1) parallel to the vector
v = i + j+k .
SOLUTION
The standard parametrization of the line through P0 ( x0 , y0 , z0 ) parallel to v = v1i + v2 j + v3k
is given by

x = x0 + tv1 , y = y0 + tv2 , z = z0 + tv3 , < t <

Putting P0 ( x0 , y0 , z0 ) = (3, 4, 1) and v = v1i + v2 j + v3k = i + j + k

x0 = 3, y0 = 4, z0 = 1; v1 = 1, v2 = 1, v3 = 1.
Thus, the required parametric equations are obtained as
x = 3 + t , y = 4 + t , z = 1 + t
20. Find an equation for the plane through A(2, 4, 5), B(1, 5, 7), and C(-1, 6, 8).
SOLUTION
First, we find a vector normal to the plane and use it with any of the points to write an
equation for the plane.
A vector normal to the plane is the cross product

i j k
 
AB AC = 1 1 2 = i 3j + k
3 2 3
By substituting the components of this vector and the coordinates of one of the points
(choose B(1, 5, 7)) into the component form of the equation (that is,
A( x x0 ) + B ( y y0 ) + C ( z z0 ) = 0 ), one obtains
1( x 1) + ( 3)( y 5) + 1( z 7) = 0
x + 1 3 y + 15 + z 7 = 0
x + 3 y z = 1 + 15 7
x + 3 y z = 9.
21. Find the area of the triangle with vertices (6, 3, 0), (6, 10, 1) and (4, 1, -1).
SOLUTION:
Let A = (6, 3, 0), B = (6,10, -1), C = (4, 1, -1)

AB = 6 6,10 3,1 0 = 0, 7,1 = 0i + 7 j + k

AC = 4 6,1 3, 1 0 = 2, 2, 1 = 2i 2 j k

i
j k
 
AB AC = 0
7 1 = 5i 2 j + 14k
2 2 1
 
AB AC = 5i 2 j + 14k = ( 5) 2 + ( 2) 2 + (14) 2 = 15
1   15
Area = AB AC =
2
2
22. If a = i + 3 j 2k , b = 2 j k and c = i j + 2k , find the cosine of the angle between

(a b )

and ( b c ) .

SOLUTION:
i
j

ab = 1
0

k
2 = i + j + 2k
1

3
2

bc = 0
1

2
1

k
1 = 3i j 2k
2

( a b )i( b c ) = ( i + j + 2k )i( 3i j 2k ) = 1(3) + 1(1) + 2(2) = 2

a b = i + j + 2k = 12 + 12 + 22 = 6 ;
b c = 3i j 2k = 32 + (1)2 + (2) 2 = 14
cos =

( a b )i( b c ) =
ab bc

2
2
1
=
=
.
6 14
84
21

23. If p = 3i + 3k , q = 5i + j 8k and r = i + 4 j + 2k , find the length of the vector r (2p + q )

.
SOLUTION:
2p + q = 2(3i + 3k ) + ( 5i + j 8k ) = i + j 2k

r ( 2p + q ) = 1 4 2 = 10i + 4 j 3k
1 1 2
Thus,
r ( 2p + q ) = 10i + 4 j 3k = ( 10) 2 + 42 + ( 3) 2 = 125 = 5 5
24. Find the area of the triangle with vertices P(2, 1, 0), Q(0, -1, 2) and R(1, -2, 2).
SOLUTION
1  
Area of triangle = PQ PR
2
i
j k
 
But PQ PR = 2 2 2 = 2i + 2 j + 4k

1 3 2
Hence, area of the triangle is obtained as follows:
1   1 2
24 2 6
Area = PQ PR =
2 + 2 2 + 42 =
=
= 6
2
2
2
2
25. Find the two unit vectors orthogonal to both the vectors r = 2e1 + 4e 2 + 2e3 and
s = e1 + 2e 2 e3 where e1 , e 2 and e3 are the unit vectors in the directions of three
coordinate axes respectively.
SOLUTION:
Recall that the vector that is orthogonal (perpendicular) to both r and s is r s , that is,
e1 e 2 e3
r s = 2
1

4
2

2 = 8e1 8e3
1

Now, the unit vector in the direction of r s = 8e1 8e3 is

8e1 8e3
8e1 8e3 8e1 8e3
r s
1
2
=
=
=
=
( e1 + e3 ) = ( e1 + e3 )
2
2
r s
2
128
8 2
2
( 8) + ( 8)
2
( e1 + e3 ) . (C)
2
26. Find the parametric equations of the line passing through the points P(2,2,1) and Q(3,1,4).
SOLUTION

The line is parallel to the vector PQ = i j + 3k . Hence, by definition, we have
x 2 = t , y 2 = t , z 1 = 3t
as the required parametric equations with the parameter t .

Thus, the two unit vectors orthogonal to the two given vectors are

Alternatively, we can have

x 3 = t , y 1 = t , z 4 = 3t
27. Find the symmetric equations of the line passing through the points P(2,2,1) and Q(3,1,4).
SOLUTION

The line is parallel to the vector PQ = i j + 3k . Hence, by definition, we have
x 2 y 2 z 1
z 1
or x 2 = 2 y =
=
=
1
3
3
1
as the required symmetric equations with the parameter t .
Alternatively, we can have
x 3 = t , y 1 = t , z 4 = 3t
28. Find the equation of the plane containing the points (2, 1,0), (0, -1, 2) and (1, -2, 2).
SOLUTION:
We let P = (2, 1, 0), Q = (0, -1, 2) and R = (1, -2, 2).
Now, we deduce

PQ =< 0 2, 1 1, 2 0 >=< 2, 2, 2 > ,

PR =< 1 2, 2 1, 2 0 >=< 1, 3, 2 > .
The normal to the plane is the vector
 
PQ PR = < 2, 2, 2 > < 1, 3, 2 > = < 2, 2, 4 > = 2i + 2 j + 4k
Thus, using the point P(2, 1, 0), the equation of the plane can be obtained as
2( x 2) + 2( y 1) + 4( z 0) = 0
which is simplified as follows
2( x 2) + 2( y 1) + 4( z 0) = 0

2x 4 + 2 y 2 + 4z = 0
2x + 2 y + 4z = 6
x + y + 2z = 3
29. Find the equation of the plane containing the point (1, 2, -3) and parallel to the plane
3x 2 y + 4 z = 5 .
SOLUTION:
The vector normal to the plane is < 3, 2, 4 > . Hence, the equation of the plane is
3( x 1) 2( y 2) + 4( z + 3) = 0
or
3 x 2 y + 4 z + 13 = 0 .
d ( bib )
30. Find
if b = sin(t )i + cos(t ) j + tk
dt

bib = ( sin(t )i + cos(t ) j + tk )i( sin(t )i + cos(t ) j + tk )

= sin 2 t + cos 2 t + t 2
= 1+ t2

d ( bib )
dt

= 2t

31. If a = t 2i + tk and b = ti k then calculate

ab = t

t = 2t 2 j

0 1

d (a b )
dt

= 4tj, so

d (a b )
dt

=4
t =1

a
.
2

32. If a = 12i 24 3k then find

a = 12i 24 3k
a
1

=
12i 24 3k
2
2

d (a b )
at t = 1.
dt

= 6 2i 12 6k
33. Calculate the normal derivative at (1, 1,1) of the function = yz + zx xy.
= yz + zx xy

i+
j+
k
=
x
y
z
= ( z y) i + ( z x) j + ( y + x)k
So at (1, 1,1) grad = 2i

showing that n = grad = 2

34. Calculate the position vector r of a particle at any time t 0 with velocity given as
v = 4t 3i + 3t 2 j + 2tk .

v = 4t 3 i + 3t 2 j + 2tk
r = ( 4t 3 i + 3t 2 j + 2tk )dt
= t 4i + t3 j + t 2k
(r = 0, t = 0, c = 0)
35. Find curl a if a = xzi .
a = xzi 0 j + 0k

x
xz

y
0

= x
z
xz
0

z j + x
0
xz

y k
0

= ( xy ) j + ( xz ) k
x
y

= xj

36. Determine the divergence of the vector field, a = k1k2 xi k1k3 yj k2 k3 zi .

div a =

a x a y a z
+
+
= k1 k2 k1 k3 k2 k3
x
y
z

37. Find curl b if b = xyj .

b = 0i + xyj + 0k

x
0

y
xy

= y
z
xy
0

z i + x
0
0

y k
xy

= ( xy ) i + ( xy ) k
z
x

= yk
38. Find

db
if b = sin t i + cos t j + et k .
dt

b = sin t i + cos t j + et k

39. Find

db
at t = 1, if b = t 2 i 2t 2 j tk
dt

b = t 2 i 2t 2 j tk

db
= cos t i sin t j + et k
dt

db
= 2i 4 j k
dt t =1

db
= 21
dt t =1