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Date May 2009 Marks available 6 Reference code 09M.2.hl.TZ1.5
Level HL only Paper 2 Time zone TZ1
Command term Find Question number 5 Adapted from N/A

Question

Find the angle between the lines x12=1y=2z and x=y=3z .

Markscheme

consider a vector parallel to each line,

e.g. {\boldsymbol{u}} = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}   4 \\   { - 2} \\   1 \end{array}} \right) and {\boldsymbol{v}} = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}   3 \\   3 \\   1 \end{array}} \right)     A1A1

let \theta be the angle between the lines

\cos \theta  = \frac{{\left| {{\boldsymbol{u \times v}}} \right|}}{{\left| {\boldsymbol{u}} \right|\left| {\boldsymbol{v}} \right|}} = \frac{{\left| {12 - 6 + 1} \right|}}{{\sqrt {21} \sqrt {19} }}     M1A1

= \frac{7}{{\sqrt {21} \sqrt {19} }} = 0.350...     (A1)

so \theta  = 69.5 \left( {{\text{or }}1.21{\text{ rad or }}\arccos \left( {\frac{7}{{\sqrt {21} \sqrt {19} }}} \right)} \right)     A1     N4

Note: Allow FT from incorrect reasonable vectors.

[6 marks]

Examiners report

Most students knew how to find the angle between two vectors, although many could not find the correct two direction vectors.

Syllabus sections

Topic 4 - Core: Vectors » 4.3 » The angle between two lines.

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