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Date May 2010 Marks available 4 Reference code 10M.2.hl.TZ2.7
Level HL only Paper 2 Time zone TZ2
Command term Find Question number 7 Adapted from N/A

Question

The three planes

     \(2x - 2y - z = 3\)

     \(4x + 5y - 2z = - 3\)

     \(3x + 4y - 3z = - 7\)

intersect at the point with coordinates (a, b, c).

Find the value of each of a, b and c.

[2]
a.

The equations of three planes are

     \(2x - 4y - 3z = 4\)

     \( - x + 3y + 5z = - 2\)

     \(3x - 5y - z = 6\).

Find a vector equation of the line of intersection of these three planes.

[4]
b.

Markscheme

(a)     use GDC or manual method to find a, b and c     (M1)

obtain \(a = 2,{\text{ }}b = - 1,{\text{ }}c = 3\) (in any identifiable form)     A1

[2 marks]

a.

use GDC or manual method to solve second set of equations     (M1)

obtain \(x = \frac{{4 - 11t}}{2};{\text{ }}y = \frac{{ - 7t}}{2};{\text{ }}z = t\) (or equivalent)     (A1)

\(r = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}
  2 \\
  0 \\
  0
\end{array}} \right) + t\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}
  { - 5.5} \\
  { - 3.5} \\
  1
\end{array}} \right)\) (accept equivalent vector forms)     M1A1

Note: Final A1 requires r = or equivalent.

 

[4 marks]

b.

Examiners report

Generally well done.

a.

Moderate success here. Some forgot that an equation must have an = sign.

b.

Syllabus sections

Topic 1 - Core: Algebra » 1.9 » Solutions of systems of linear equations (a maximum of three equations in three unknowns), including cases where there is a unique solution, an infinity of solutions or no solution.

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