How to find vector perpendicular to two points a and b
Hi, I have a question
Given that a = 3i + j - K, b= -i + 5j + 3k, find a vector which is perpendicular to both a and b
Do I just find AB and then find a line equation which is perpendicular with dot product = 0? I'm so confused.
Many thanks
Given that a = 3i + j - K, b= -i + 5j + 3k, find a vector which is perpendicular to both a and b
Do I just find AB and then find a line equation which is perpendicular with dot product = 0? I'm so confused.
Many thanks
Well, it depends on which A-level you are doing. The cross product is what you are after. If you haven't done cross product then post back and there is an algebraic technique which someone could describe to you.
Edit: BTW your calculator may well do cross products. In which case it is just finger work
Edit: BTW your calculator may well do cross products. In which case it is just finger work
(edited 10 months ago)
Reply 2
Original post by nerak99
Well, it depends on which A-level you are doing. The cross product is what you are after. If you haven't done cross product then post back and there is an algebraic technique which someone could describe to you.
Edit: BTW your calculator may well do cross products. In which case it is just finger work
Edit: BTW your calculator may well do cross products. In which case it is just finger work
I am doing Edexcel Core Pure 1, Chapter 7. The question is from a homework. There is nothing on the "cross product" here in the textbook
(edited 10 months ago)
Original post by hwhejfjejsjx
I am doing Edexcel Core Pure 1, Chapter 7. The question is from a homework. There is nothing on the "cross product" here in the textbook
Well, what calculator have you got? I will run up an example using algebra
Original post by hwhejfjejsjx
I am doing Edexcel Core Pure 1, Chapter 7. The question is from a homework. There is nothing on the "cross product" here in the textbook
I assume you're not using the Pearson Edexcel CP1 book dated 2017? In that book vectors are covered in Chapter 9 and there is a specific example of what you want which just requires the dot product and simultaneous equations.
So here is a home brewed example.
Assume that we have 3i+2j+k and 2i-3j+4k
Our target vector is ai+bj+ck
The scalar (dot) product of our original 2 vectors with ai+bj+ck is zero
so we can set up
3a+2b+c=0 and 2a-3b+4c =0
Oo dear, two equations and three unknowns however we don't care what length our vector is so we are free to choose one of the variables and the others will scale accordingly so lets do a=1
this gives us 2b+c = -3 and -3b+4c=-2
I get -10/11 for b and -13/11 for c
so our vector is i-10/11 j-13/11 k
So a better one is 11i-10j-13k
obvs, either one would work
So try that on your one. I have no idea if it's the same as the text book method. Long time since I looked at a text book.
Assume that we have 3i+2j+k and 2i-3j+4k
Our target vector is ai+bj+ck
The scalar (dot) product of our original 2 vectors with ai+bj+ck is zero
so we can set up
3a+2b+c=0 and 2a-3b+4c =0
Oo dear, two equations and three unknowns however we don't care what length our vector is so we are free to choose one of the variables and the others will scale accordingly so lets do a=1
this gives us 2b+c = -3 and -3b+4c=-2
I get -10/11 for b and -13/11 for c
so our vector is i-10/11 j-13/11 k
So a better one is 11i-10j-13k
obvs, either one would work
So try that on your one. I have no idea if it's the same as the text book method. Long time since I looked at a text book.
(edited 10 months ago)
Original post by nerak99
So here is a home brewed example.
Assume that we have 3i+2j+k and 2i-3j+4k
Our target vector is ai+bj+ck
The scalar (dot) product of our original 2 vectors with ai+bj+ck is zero
so we can set up
3a+2b+c=0 and 2a-3b+4c =0
Oo dear, two equations and three unknowns however we don't care what length our vector is so we are free to choose one of the variables and the others will scale accordingly so lets do a=1
this gives us 2b+c = -3 and -3b+4c=-2
I get -10/11 for b and -13/11 for c
so our vector is i-10/11 j-13/11 k
So a better one is 11i-10j-13k
obvs, either one would work
So try that on your one. I have no idea if it's the same as the text book method. Long time since I looked at a text book.
Assume that we have 3i+2j+k and 2i-3j+4k
Our target vector is ai+bj+ck
The scalar (dot) product of our original 2 vectors with ai+bj+ck is zero
so we can set up
3a+2b+c=0 and 2a-3b+4c =0
Oo dear, two equations and three unknowns however we don't care what length our vector is so we are free to choose one of the variables and the others will scale accordingly so lets do a=1
this gives us 2b+c = -3 and -3b+4c=-2
I get -10/11 for b and -13/11 for c
so our vector is i-10/11 j-13/11 k
So a better one is 11i-10j-13k
obvs, either one would work
So try that on your one. I have no idea if it's the same as the text book method. Long time since I looked at a text book.
The CP1 book I have uses essentially the same method.
(I like to have a copy of the latest texts for reference as I'm no longer a student, but honestly the current incarnations of the textbooks look more like children's colouring-in books and advertisements for the publisher's website than proper textbooks! Probably why they're so ridiculously expensive now.)
Reply 7
Original post by davros
I assume you're not using the Pearson Edexcel CP1 book dated 2017? In that book vectors are covered in Chapter 9 and there is a specific example of what you want which just requires the dot product and simultaneous equations.
I don't see this
Reply 8
Original post by nerak99
Well, what calculator have you got? I will run up an example using algebra
CG 50 Casio
Ah, well a cg50 allows you to do the following key sequences.
BTW, if you really hate Videos then this link gives you a pretty good summary of Casio CG50 calculators without having to wade through YouTube, https://casiocalculators-mea.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/CG50-Training-Material.pdf
Btw, this is not the only way of doing this, you can enter vectors directly to the screen for example.
Menu>1 (run-matrix) f3(mat/vct) f6 (to get the display to Vct mode)
Vct A>exe
Enter dimensions of vector in order row (probably 3) and column (probably 1)
Enter your first vector I did 4,8,12
Exit
Vct B >exe
Enter your second vector I did
4,-1,-7
To get to the vector - matrix operations
OPTN > f2 (MAT/VCT) f6 f6 ( to scroll along)
Use the CrossP function (f3) to make the screen show
CrossP(Vct A, Vct B)
Which delivers 44, -76, 36
Which you can check by doing
DotP(Vct A, Vct C)
After storing 44, -76, 36 in C
BTW, if you really hate Videos then this link gives you a pretty good summary of Casio CG50 calculators without having to wade through YouTube, https://casiocalculators-mea.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/CG50-Training-Material.pdf
Btw, this is not the only way of doing this, you can enter vectors directly to the screen for example.
Menu>1 (run-matrix) f3(mat/vct) f6 (to get the display to Vct mode)
Vct A>exe
Enter dimensions of vector in order row (probably 3) and column (probably 1)
Enter your first vector I did 4,8,12
Exit
Vct B >exe
Enter your second vector I did
4,-1,-7
To get to the vector - matrix operations
OPTN > f2 (MAT/VCT) f6 f6 ( to scroll along)
Use the CrossP function (f3) to make the screen show
CrossP(Vct A, Vct B)
Which delivers 44, -76, 36
Which you can check by doing
DotP(Vct A, Vct C)
After storing 44, -76, 36 in C
(edited 10 months ago)
Original post by nerak99
Ah, well a cg50 allows you to do the following key sequences.
Btw, this is not the only way of doing this, you can enter vectors directly to the screen for example.
Menu>1 (run-matrix) f3(mat/vct) f6 (to get the display to Vct mode)
Vct A>exe
Enter dimensions of vector in order row (probably 3) and column (probably 1)
Enter your first vector I did 4,8,12
Exit
Vct B >exe
Enter your second vector I did
4,-1,-7
To get to the vector - matrix operations
OPTN > f2 (MAT/VCT) f6 f6 ( to scroll along)
Use the CrossP function (f3) to make the screen show
CrossP(Vct A, Vct B)
Which delivers 44, -76, 36
Which you can check by doing
DotP(Vct A, Vct C)
After storing 44, -76, 36 in C
Btw, this is not the only way of doing this, you can enter vectors directly to the screen for example.
Menu>1 (run-matrix) f3(mat/vct) f6 (to get the display to Vct mode)
Vct A>exe
Enter dimensions of vector in order row (probably 3) and column (probably 1)
Enter your first vector I did 4,8,12
Exit
Vct B >exe
Enter your second vector I did
4,-1,-7
To get to the vector - matrix operations
OPTN > f2 (MAT/VCT) f6 f6 ( to scroll along)
Use the CrossP function (f3) to make the screen show
CrossP(Vct A, Vct B)
Which delivers 44, -76, 36
Which you can check by doing
DotP(Vct A, Vct C)
After storing 44, -76, 36 in C
I might take this opportunity to have a bit of a rant about the role of calculators in Maths education.
Since, your mobile phone could deliver a massively more powerful and also simpler experience for doing maths, why has the arcane Casio Calculator become the de facto monopoly standard? (This is a kind of rhetorical question; I am aware of the exam rules)
The functions in it reduce the complexity of much mathematics to being really easy (especially stats) whilst at the same time doing so in an operating system that is a throw back to about 1985.
Many, Many students fail to learn how to use their calculator and so waste enormous amounts of time in exams trying to figure the damn thing out.
This really needs an influential group of maths teachers to grasp the narrative of what is taught and why. My initial preference would be to either do away with anything other than a basic scientific calculator or start teaching completely new stuff using proper modern Apps. You could do worse than look at a load of the SMP material from the 1970s and work something out from there.
BTW cost really need not be an issue, even the poorest of my students has a pretty fancy phone retailing at >£500 despite often not having their £5.00 calculator.
(edited 10 months ago)
Original post by hwhejfjejsjx
I don't see this
May I ask what textbook you're actually using. This is a fairly standard approach if you haven't met the cross product yet, so *somewhere* in your book for CP1 there should be a chapter on Vectors which at least covers the dot product, what it means, and how to use it for problems like this
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Line of intersection between two planes
- Edexcel AS further maths - Core Pure 1 (15th May 2023)
- A level vectors help
- Total angle of deflection
- reflection about y=x+2
- Connected Particles Question
- Projectiles Question
- maths question help please
- Isaac Physics Maths Question
- WJEC Unit 1 Maths As Level Discussion 15 May 2024
- A level Maths Circle Question
- Maths Question
- Vectors year 13
- Vectors Question Help
- Physics help please
- AQA A-level Mathematics Paper 2 (7357/2) - 11th June 2024 [Exam Chat]
- CATCHING SMUGGLERS physics question
- parallel vectors with missing values
- Trig question for vectors
- What topic is this A level mechanics maths question from?
Latest
Trending
