1.

The points P(–1, 2, –3), Q(–2, 1, 0), R(0, 5, 1) and S form a parallelogram, where S is
diagonally opposite Q.

(a) Find the coordinates of S.

(2)

 − 13 
 
(b) The vector product PQ  PS =  7  . Find the value of m.
 m 
 
(2)

(c) Hence calculate the area of parallelogram PQRS.

(2)

(d) Find the Cartesian equation of the plane, Π1, containing the parallelogram PQRS.
(3)

(e) Write down the vector equation of the line through the origin (0, 0, 0) that is
perpendicular to the plane Π1.
(1)

(f) Hence find the point on the plane that is closest to the origin.
(3)

(g) A second plane, Π2, has equation x – 2y + z = 3. Calculate the angle between the two
planes.
(4)
(Total 17 marks)

2. Given any two non-zero vectors a and b, show that │a × b│2 = │a│2│b│2 – (a • b)2.
(Total 6 marks)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition 1

3. The points A(1, 2, 1), B(–3, 1, 4), C(5, –1, 2) and D(5, 3, 7) are the vertices of a tetrahedron.

(a) Find the vectors AB and AC .

(2)

(b) Find the Cartesian equation of the plane Π that contains the face ABC.
(4)

(c) Find the vector equation of the line that passes through D and is perpendicular to Π.
Hence, or otherwise, calculate the shortest distance to D from Π.
(5)

(d) (i) Calculate the area of the triangle ABC.

(ii) Calculate the volume of the tetrahedron ABCD.

(4)

(e) Determine which of the vertices B or D is closer to its opposite face.

(4)
(Total 19 marks)

4. A plane π has vector equation r = (–2i + 3j – 2k) + λ(2i + 3j + 2k) + μ(6i – 3j + 2k).

(a) Show that the Cartesian equation of the plane π is 3x + 2y – 6z = 12.

(6)

(b) The plane π meets the x, y and z axes at A, B and C respectively. Find the coordinates of
A, B and C.
(3)

(c) Find the volume of the pyramid OABC.

(3)

(d) Find the angle between the plane π and the x-axis.
(4)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition 2

 (e) Hence, or otherwise, find the distance from the origin to the plane π.
(2)

(f) Using your answers from (c) and (e), find the area of the triangle ABC.
(2)
(Total 20 marks)

5. (a) Consider the vectors a = 6i + 3j + 2k, b = –3j + 4k.

(i) Find the cosine of the angle between vectors a and b.

(ii) Find a × b.

(iii) Hence find the Cartesian equation of the plane Π containing the vectors a and b
and passing through the point (1, 1, –1).

(iv) The plane Π intersects the x-y plane in the line l. Find the area of the finite
triangular region enclosed by l, the x-axis and the y-axis.
(11)

(b) Given two vectors p and q,

(i) show that p • p = │p│2;

(ii) hence, or otherwise, show that │p + q│2 = │p│2 + 2p • q + │q│2;

(iii) deduce that │p + q│≤│p│ + │q│.

(8)
(Total 19 marks)

6. Two lines are defined by

 − 3  3 
    x−4 y+7
l1 : r =  − 4  +   2  and l 2 : = = –(z + 3).
 6   − 2 −3 4
   

(a) Find the coordinates of the point A on l1 and the point B on l2 such that AB is
perpendicular to both l1 and l2.
(13)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition 3

 (b) Find │AB│.
(3)

(c) Find the Cartesian equation of the plane Π that contains l1 and does not intersect l2.
(3)
(Total 19 marks)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition 4