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can anyone answer this A level vectors question (very challenging)

Points A and B have position vectors a and b, respectively, relative to an origin O, and are such that OAB is a triangle with OA = a and OB = b.
the point C, with position vector c, lies on the line through O that bisects the angle AOB.
1.) prove that the vector ba-ab is perpendicular to c.
the point D, with position vector d, lies on the line AB between A and B.
2.) explain why d can be expressed in the form d=(1-λ)a+λb for some scalar λ with 0<λ<1
3.) given that D is also on the line OC, find an expression for λ in terms of a and b only and hence show that
DA:biggrin:B = OA:OB
Reply 1
Original post by shobby_999
Points A and B have position vectors a and b, respectively, relative to an origin O, and are such that OAB is a triangle with OA = a and OB = b.
the point C, with position vector c, lies on the line through O that bisects the angle AOB.
1.) prove that the vector ba-ab is perpendicular to c.
the point D, with position vector d, lies on the line AB between A and B.
2.) explain why d can be expressed in the form d=(1-λ)a+λb for some scalar λ with 0<λ<1
3.) given that D is also on the line OC, find an expression for λ in terms of a and b only and hence show that
DA:biggrin:B = OA:OB

What have you tried and can you upload a pic of the question? Not sure about the ba-ab in part 1)?

Edit - its question 5 in
https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Advanced%20Extension%20Award/Mathematics/2018/exam-materials/9811_01_que_20190815.pdf
So what have you tried, the first two parts should be relatively straightforward?
(edited 2 months ago)
Reply 2
Original post by mqb2766
What have you tried and can you upload a pic of the question? Not sure about the ba-ab in part 1)?

Edit - its question 5 in
https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Advanced%20Extension%20Award/Mathematics/2018/exam-materials/9811_01_que_20190815.pdf
So what have you tried, the first two parts should be relatively straightforward?

thank you i was able to solve it, i just had a bit of difficulty recognising that it would be an isosceles triangle, and if you add 2 points such that the position of the vector from the origin was ba for one and ab for the other it is quite simple. i was also told it can be solved using dot products but not entirely sure on the method for that
Reply 3
Original post by mqb2766
What have you tried and can you upload a pic of the question? Not sure about the ba-ab in part 1)?

Edit - its question 5 in
https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/Advanced%20Extension%20Award/Mathematics/2018/exam-materials/9811_01_que_20190815.pdf
So what have you tried, the first two parts should be relatively straightforward?

thanks
Reply 4
Original post by shobby_999
thank you i was able to solve it, i just had a bit of difficulty recognising that it would be an isosceles triangle, and if you add 2 points such that the position of the vector from the origin was ba for one and ab for the other it is quite simple. i was also told it can be solved using dot products but not entirely sure on the method for that

The isosceles solution is the geometric way to do it, but I suspect they would expect the dot product. So two vectors are orthogonal if their dot product is zero so
c.(ab-ba) = ac.b - bc.a = abc*cos(theta) - abc*cos(theta) = 0
so its a "write down" solution rather than having to construct the isosceles triangle, though the latter is a more elementary method (gcse). I suspect person setting the question adapted the basic geometry to vector lenguage.

For the last part about the ratio, you "can" also do a geometic argument as its the angle bisector theorem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angle_bisector_theorem
and there are several proofs, but I like the one where you construct a(nother) isosceles triangle. Again though, theyd want a vector solution.
(edited 2 months ago)

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