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Question 63

The trajectory of a weather balloon, lAl_AlA​, and a monitoring drone, lBl_BlB​, are modeled as lines in 3D space relative to a fixed ground station at the origin OOO. The equations of the paths are given by:

lA:r=(1−12)+λ(213) l_A : \mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -1 \\ 2 \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ 1 \\ 3 \end{pmatrix} lA​:r=​1−12​​+λ​213​​ lB:r=(50−3)+μ(1−2k) l_B : \mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix} 5 \\ 0 \\ -3 \end{pmatrix} + \mu \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ -2 \\ k \end{pmatrix} lB​:r=​50−3​​+μ​1−2k​​

where λ\lambdaλ and μ\muμ are scalar parameters and kkk is a constant.

Show that for all values of k≠−26k \neq -26k=−26, the paths lAl_AlA​ and lBl_BlB​ are skew.

[6]
Markscheme

Vectors Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Maths
  3. /Vectors

309 exam-style questions on Edexcel A Level Maths Vectors, covering 12.1 3D Coordinates, 12.2 Vectors in 3D, 12.3 Solving Geometric Problems, and 12.4 Application to Mechanics. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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