PURE MATHEMATICS

Vectors………...……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. O’ Level Questions

1)

In figure OA =a, OB =b, 3 OC = 2 OA and 4 OD = 7 OB . The line

DC meets the line AB at E
a) Write down , in terms of a and b , expressions for
i) AB and ii ) DC

Given that DE = λ DC and EB = μ AB where λ and μ are constants

b) Use ∆ EBD to form an equation relating a , b , λ and μ
Hence
9
c) Show that  
13
d) Find the exact value of μ
e) Express OE in terms of a and b
The line OE produced meets the line AD at F . Given that OF = k OE where k

1
is a constant and that AF   7 b  4a 
10
f) Find the value of k

Jan 94

2)

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 Figure shows a regular hexagon OABCDE in which OA = a and OB =b .
Express in terms of a and b
a) AB b) OC c) BC

The point X is on AC and is such that AX : AC = k : 1 , where 0 < k < 1

d) Show that AX = -3ka + 2kb
e) Express OX in terms of k , a and b
Given that X also lies on OB
f) Find the value of k
g) Write down the ratio OX : XB
The points Q and R are such that OQ = 2a + 2b and OR = 5a + 8b
h) Show that points A , Q and R are collinear
June 94

3)

In figure OA = a and OB = b . The point C lies on AB and is such that

AC : CB = 1 : 3 . Express AC in terms of a and b
June 94

4)

216
 In figure OA =a , OB =b, OC = 4 OA , OD = 3 OB , 5 CF = 3 CD , AE =λ
AD and BE = μ BC , where λ and μ are constants
a) Find , in terms of a and b , expressions for AD and BC

b) Show that OE = ( 1 – λ )a + 3λb

c) Find in terms of a , b and μ another expression for OE

d) Use your answers to ( b ) and ( c ) to find λ and μ

e) Write down , in terms of a and b only , an expression for OE

f) Find , in terms of a and b , an expression for OF and , hence, show that AD , BC and
OF are concurrent
Jan 95

5)
In figure , the points A and B have
position vectors a and b respectively , relative
to point O as origin
OC = 2 OA and OD = 3 OB and M is

the point of CD such that CM : MD = 3 : 5

a) Find, in terms of a and b , an expression for CD

1
b) Hence, or otherwise , show that OM   10a  9b 
8
Jan 95

6)

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 In figure OA =a , OB =b and OC = 2( b – a ) . The point D is on AB
produced with CD parallel to OB
a) Find, in terms of a and b
i) AB

ii ) AC

b) Show that OBDC is a parallelogram

Given that BD = λ AB where λ is a constant
c) Find λ and show that OD = 3b – 2a
AC intersects OD at X and AX = μ AC where μ is a constant
d) Show that OX = ( 1 – 3μ )a + 2μb
e) Using the results of ( c ) and ( d ) , find μ
f) Using your value of μ , find OX : XD

May 95

7)

218
 In figure , OR =a , OP = 2 OR , OS = 2b and 2 OQ = 3 OS
a) Find , in terms of a and b
i) RQ

and
ii ) PS

Given that RT = λ RQ , where λ is a constant

b) Use ∆ PRT to express PT in terms of λ , a and b
Given also that PT = μ PS , where μ is a constant
c) Express PT in terms of μ , a and b
d) Hence find the values of λ and μ
e) Calculate the ratio
( area ∆ OPQ ) : ( area quadrilateral PQSR )

Jan 96

8)

219
 In figure , OA = 3a , OB = 3b and OC = 2a + 2b . The point D is on AC such
that AD : DC = 2 : 1 and E is the point on BC produced such that BE = k BC ,
where k is constant
a) Express , in terms of a and b
i) BC ii ) AC iii ) OD

b) Show that OE = 2ka + ( 3 – k )b

Given also that ODE is a straight line , find
c) The value of k
d) OE , in terms of a and b only
e) The ratio OD : DE
May 96

9) In triangle OAB , M is the mid-point of AB and N is the point on OM produced

such that 2 ON = 3 OM . Given that OA =a , OB =b
a) Express AN in terms of a and b
The point P is on OB produced and is such that OP = λ OB
b) Express AP in terms of a , b and λ
Given that ANP is a straight line , find
c) The value of λ
d) The ratio OB : BP
e) The ratio ( area of triangle OAM ) : ( area of triangle OAN )
Jan 97

10)

220
 In figure , OA = 3a , OB = 2b , OB = 2 OD , OA = 3 OC , DE = p DA ,
CE = q CB and BF = r BA , where p , q and r are positive constants
a) Find , in terms of a and b , an expression for
i) DA

ii ) CB

b) Show that OE = 3pa + ( 1 – p )b

c) Find , in terms of a , b and q , another expression for OE

d) Using your answers to ( b ) and ( c ) , find the values of p and q

e) Write down , in terms of a and b only , an expression for OE

f) Find the value of r

May 97

11)

221
 In figure , OACB is a parallelogram . The side BC is produced to F . The line OF
intersects AB at D and AC at E . OA = 2a , OB = 3b , BD = λ BA and
BF = μ BC , where λ and μ are positive constants
a) Show that OD = 2λa + 3( 1 – λ )b
b) Obtain , in terms of a , b and μ , an expression for OF

c) Show that λ( 1 + μ ) = μ
Given also that 4λ + μ = 6 , find
d) The value of λ and the value of μ
e) The ratio AE : EC

Jan 98

12)

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 In figure , OA =a, OB =b, OC = 3b , AB = 2 AM and AC = 4 AT
a) Find , in terms of a and b
i) AB ii ) AM iii ) OM iv ) OT

b) Hence prove that O , M and T are collinear

c) Find the ratio OM : MT
d) State the ratio
i) area ∆ OAM : area ∆ AMT
ii ) area ∆ ATO : area ∆ OTC
May 98

13)

In figure OA =a, OB =b, OC = c and CB = 5 AC

1
a) Show that c   5a  b 
6
b) Find an expression , in terms of a and b , for CB

Jan 99

14)

223
 In figure OA =a and OB = b . P is the point on OA produced such that
OA : AP = 1 : 2 and Q is the point on OB produced such that OB : BQ = 1 : 2
a) Find , in terms of a and b
i) AB ii ) PQ

b) Hence prove that PQ is parallel to AB

Jan 99
15)

In figure OA =a and OB = b , C is the midpoint of OA and AD : DB = 2 : 1

a) Find , in terms of a and b
i) AB ii ) AD iii ) CD

CD produced meets OB at E . Given that OB : BE = 1 : μ

b) Show that OE = ( μ + 1 )b
c) By writing CE = λ CD , find an expression for OE , in terms of a , b and λ
d) Hence determine the values of λ and μ
e) Write down the ratio CD : DE and the ratio OB : BE
f) Deduce that area ∆ OCD : area ∆ ODE = 1 : 2
g) Hence show that area ∆ OCD = area ∆ BDE
June 99

16)

224
 Figure shows ∆ OAB in which OA =a and OB = b . The midpoint of OA is D
and P divides AB internally in the ratio 2 : 1 . The midpoint of OP is E
a) Find , in terms of a and b
i) AB

ii ) AP

iii ) OP
iv ) DE

b) Write down two geometrical facts about AP and DE

c) Write down the ratio
i ) area ∆ OAP : area ∆ OPB
ii ) area ∆ ODE : area ∆ OAP
d) Hence deduce that the area of quadrilateral APED is half the area of ∆ OAB

Jan 00

17)

225
 In figure OA =a, OB =b, OC = 2b – 5a . The point D divides AB internally
in the ratio 3 : 1 and the point E divides BC internally in the ratio λ : 1
a) Express , in terms of a and b
i) BC ii) AB iii) OD

b) Show that ( 1 + λ ) OE = ( 1 + 2λ )b – 5λa

Given that AB is parallel to OE , find
c) The value of λ
d) DE in terms of a and b
e) Show that DE is parallel to AC
June 00
18)

Figure shows ∆ OAB in which OA = OB and D is the mid-point of AB. Given that
OA =a and OB =b
a) Find , in terms of a and b
i) BA ii) OD

b) Hence prove that a+b and a–b are perpendicular vectors

June 00

19)

226
 In figure , the points A and B have position vectors , relative to the origin O , of

1
a and b respectively . The mid-point of OA is M , ON = OB and P divides
4
MN internally in the ratio 2 : 3
a) Find MN in terms of a and b
1
b) Hence , or otherwise , show that OP = (3a + b)
10
Jan 01
20)

Figure shows ∆ OAB in which OA = 5a , OB = 5b and OE = 2b . The point C

is on OA such that OC : OA = 2 : 5 and D is the point on BC such that 7 BD = 5
BC
a) Express, in terms of a and b , the vectors
i) AB ii) AE iii) BC iv) AD v) CE

Hence prove that

b) CE is parallel to AB
c) The points A , D and E are collinear
d) Find the ratio (area ∆ ACD ) : (area ∆ ACB )
Jan 02

21)

227
 In figure OA =a, OB = b and M is the mid-point of OA. The point P is on AB
such that 2 AP = 3 PB and X divides OB externally in the ratio 3:2
a) Find , in terms of a and b
i) AB ii) OP iii) MP iv) MX

b) Show that M , P and X are collinear

May 02

22)

In figure , OA  a and OB  b . The point C divides OB externally in the ratio

3 : 1 and the point D divides AB internally in the ratio 1 : 4
a) Express, in terms of a and b
i) OD ii) OC iii) AC

The point E divides AC internally in the ratio 1 :  . Given that O , D and E are
collinear ,
b) Find the value of 
Jan 04

23)

228
 In figure , OA  a and OB  b . The point P divides OA in the ratio 1 : 2 and Q is
the midpoint of OB.
a) Find PQ , in terms of a and b
R is the point on AB produced such that OR  2b  a

b) Find PR , in terms of a and b

c) Hence show that P , Q and R are collinear.
Jan 05
24)

2b
In figure OA  a , OB b and OD  . The mid-point of AD is E.
5
a) Find , in terms of a and b,
i) AD ii) OE iii) BE

The point F is such that OF   OA . Given that F , E and B are collinear,

b) Find the value of 
Given that area ΔOAD =  × area ΔOFB
c) Find the value of 
May 05

25)

229
 In Figure 1 , OA  a , OB  b and M is the midpoint of AB. The point P divides OA in
the ratio 2 : 1, and PM produced meets OB produced at D.

(a) Find, in terms of a and b,

(i) AB,

(ii) PA ,

(iii) PM.

Given that PD   PM and OD   OB,

(b) find the value of  and the value of  .

May 06

26)

230
 Figure 1 shows OAB where OA = a and OB = b. The point P divides OA in the ratio 2 :
3 and the point Q divides AB in the ratio 5 : 2. The side OB is produced to the point D, where
5
OD = OB.
2

(a) Find, in terms of a and b,

(i) PB , (ii) AD , (iii) AB , (iv) PQ , (v) PD .

(b) Show that

(i) PB is parallel to AD,

(ii) P, Q and D are collinear.

May 07

27)

231
 In figure 2, OA = a and OB = b . The point D on OB is such that OD : OB = 1 : 4 and
the
point E divides DA in the ratio 1 : 2

(a) Find, in terms of a and b,

(i) AD, (ii) OE, (iii) BE.

The point F lies on OA such that OF = OA . Given that F, E and B are collinear,

(b) find the value of .

The point G lies on OA such that OF =  AB. Given that EG is parallel to DB,

(c) find the value of .

Jan 09
28)

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In Figure 1, , and D is a point on OB. The point E is the midpoint of AB and F is the

point on AD which is such that .

Prove that O, F and E are collinear. (4)

Total Marks 4, May 09, P1
29)

In Figure 3, OABC is a trapezium, , OC = c and , where k is a positive

constant. The point P lies on the straight line CAP such that CA : AP = m : 1 , where m is
a positive integer.
Express in terms of a and c and, where necessary, k or m, simplifying your answer where
possible,
(a) , (1)
(b) , (2)
(c) , (2)
(d) . (2)
Given that ,
(e) calculate the value of m and the value of k. (4)
Total Marks 11, Jan 10, P2
30) Referred to a fixed origin O, the position vectors of the points A and B are ai + 8j
and 14i + bj respectively and the mid-point, M, of AB has position vector 9i + 40j.
(a) Find the value of a and the value of b. (2)
(b) Find the unit vector in the direction of . (2)

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 Total Marks 4, May 10, P2

31)

In ΔOAB , and .
The point C divides AB in the ratio 2 :3 and D is the mid-point of OB as shown in Figure 1.
(a) Find, in terms of a and b, .
(2)
OC and AD meet at K.
K divides AD in the ratio λ : 3
(b) Find the value of λ. (4)
Total Marks 6, Jan 11, P2
32) Relative to a fixed origin O, the position vector of the point A is 5i + pj and the position
vector of the point B is qi +12j. The point D with position vector 13i +10j divides the line AB in
the ratio 2 :1
(a) Find the value of p and the value of q. (3)
The points A, B and E lie in that order on a straight line and AE : BE is 5 : 2
(b) Find, in terms of i and j, the position vector of the point E. (3)
Total Marks 6, May 11, P2
33)

Figure 2 shows a trapezium OABC in which AB is parallel to OC and AB = OC. The

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point P divides OA in the ratio 1:3 and the point Q divides BC in the ratio 1:2
The line AC intersects the line PQ at the point T.
and
(a) Find, as simplified expressions in terms of a and c
(i)
(ii) (5)
(b) (i) Given that , find an expression for in terms of λ, a and c
(ii) Given also that , find an expression for in terms of µ, a and c (2)
(c) Use your answers from part (b) to find the value of λ and hence write down the ratio PT : TQ
(6)
Total Marks 13, Jan 12, P1
34) Referred to a fixed origin O, the position vectors of the points P and Q are (10i – 3j)
and (4i + 6j) respectively. The point R divides PQ internally in the ratio 2:1
(a) Find the position vector of R (2)
The point S divides OQ internally in the ratio 5 : 4 and area ΔOPQ = λ area ΔSRQ.
(b) Find the exact value of λ. (4)
Total Marks 6, Jan 12, P2
35)

 
In Figure 3, OA  a, OB  b and M is the mid-point of AB.
The point P is on OA such that OP : PA = 3:2
The point X lies on OB produced.
(a) Find, as simplified expressions in terms of a and b, (6)
  
(i) AB (ii) OM (iii) PM
Given that P, M and X are collinear

(b) find, in terms of b, OX (4)
(c) find the ratio (area  OAM) : (area  OAX). (3)
Total Marks 13, Jan 13, P2

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 1 1 1 
Answers: a) i) b  a ii) (a  b) iii) b  a b) OX  3b c) 1:6
2 2 10
36) O, A, B and
Care fixed points
 such that 
OA = p + q OB = 3p – q OC = 6p – 4q

(a) Find AB in terms of p and q. (1)
(b) Show that the points A, B and C are collinear. (2)
(c) Find the ratio AB : BC (1)
The pointD lies on AC produced such that AC = 2CD
(d) Find OD in terms of p and q, simplifying your answer (4)
Total Marks 8, May 13, P1
1 1
Answers: a)2p-2q c) 2:3 d) 8 p  6 q
2 2
37)

 angle of the hexagon is 120 

Figure 4 shows a hexagon OABCDE. Each internal
OA  OE , AB  ED  2  OA , OC  3  OA OA  α and OE  e
Find as simplified expressions in terms of α and e

(a) AB (2)

(b) BE (2)
The point P divides AB internally in the ratio 2:3

(c) Find PC as a simplified expression in terms of α and e. (3)
The point Q lies on ED produced so that the points P, C and Q are collinear.

(d) Find OQ in the form  α +  e, stating the value of  and the value of  . (6)
Total Marks 13, Jan 14, P2
Answers: a) 2(a+e) b) –(3a+e) c) 6/5a+11/5e d)  =21/5,  =26/5

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