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IBDP MAI : Topic 3 Geometry and trigonometry - AHL 3.11 Vector equation of a line in two and three dimensions AI HL Paper 3

Question

Luca is a video game creator. He crafts his games to occur in a two-dimensional space, relative to an origin O. In one of his projects, an item moves along a straight path \(L_1\) with vector equation

\[ \mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix} -1 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ -1 \end{pmatrix}, \quad \lambda \in \mathbb{Z}. \]

(a) Express \(L_1\) in the form \(x = x_0 + \lambda l\) and \(y = y_0 + \lambda m\), where \(l, m \in \mathbb{Z}\). [1]

Luca employs the matrix \[ T = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 7 \\ 7 & -1 \end{pmatrix} \] to transform \(L_1\) into a new straight path \(L_2\). The item will then travel along \(L_2\).

(b) Find the vector equation of \(L_2\). [4]

Luca understands that the transformation provided by matrix \(T\) consists of the following three distinct transformations (in the order listed):

  • A rotation of \(\frac{\pi}{4}\), anticlockwise around the origin \(O\)
  • An enlargement with a scale factor of \(5\sqrt{2}\), centered at \(O\)
  • A reflection over the straight line \(y = mx\), where \(m = \tan\alpha\), \(0 \leq \alpha < \pi\)

(c) Write down the matrix that represents

  1. the rotation,
  2. the enlargement.[2]

(d) The matrix \(R\) represents the reflection. Write down \(R\) in terms of \(\alpha\). [1]

(e) Given that \(T = RX\),

  1. use your answers to part (c) to find matrix \(X\).
  2. hence, find the value of \(\alpha\).[6]
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Markscheme

(a)

Extracting the components from the vector equation to express the line parametrically.

From \(\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix} -1 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} 2 \\ -1 \end{pmatrix}\), the x-component is \(-1 + 2\lambda\) and the y-component is \(1 – \lambda\).

Thus, \( x = -1 + 2\lambda \), \( y = 1 – \lambda \).

[1 mark]

(b)

Applying the transformation matrix \( T \) to the position vector of \( L_1 \) to derive the new line \( L_2 \).

Compute \( T \begin{pmatrix} -1 + 2\lambda \\ 1 – \lambda \end{pmatrix} \):

\( \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 7 \\ 7 & -1 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} -1 + 2\lambda \\ 1 – \lambda \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 1 \times (-1 + 2\lambda) + 7 \times (1 – \lambda) \\ 7 \times (-1 + 2\lambda) + (-1) \times (1 – \lambda) \end{pmatrix} \)

\( = \begin{pmatrix} (-1 + 2\lambda) + (7 – 7\lambda) \\ (-7 + 14\lambda) + (-1 + \lambda) \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -1 + 2\lambda + 7 – 7\lambda \\ -7 + 14\lambda – 1 + \lambda \end{pmatrix} \)

\( = \begin{pmatrix} 6 – 5\lambda \\ -8 + 15\lambda \end{pmatrix} \)

Formulating the vector equation using the resulting coordinates, ensuring the direction vector is correctly adjusted.

So, the vector equation is \( r = \begin{pmatrix} 6 \\ -8 \end{pmatrix} + \lambda \begin{pmatrix} -5 \\ 15 \end{pmatrix} \).

[4 marks]

(c)

(i) Using the standard rotation matrix for an anticlockwise rotation of \(\frac{\pi}{4}\), where \(\cos(\frac{\pi}{4}) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\) and \(\sin(\frac{\pi}{4}) = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\).

The rotation matrix is \( \begin{pmatrix} \cos(\frac{\pi}{4}) & -\sin(\frac{\pi}{4}) \\ \sin(\frac{\pi}{4}) & \cos(\frac{\pi}{4}) \end{pmatrix} \).

Substituting, \( \begin{pmatrix} \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} & -\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \\ \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} & \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \end{pmatrix} \), or approximately \( \begin{pmatrix} 0.707 & -0.707 \\ 0.707 & 0.707 \end{pmatrix} \).

[1 mark]

(ii) Constructing the enlargement matrix with the given scale factor applied uniformly to both axes.

The enlargement matrix with scale factor \(5\sqrt{2}\) is \( \begin{pmatrix} 5\sqrt{2} & 0 \\ 0 & 5\sqrt{2} \end{pmatrix} \).

[1 mark]

(d)

Recalling the reflection matrix formula over a line \( y = mx \), expressed in terms of the angle \(\alpha\).

The reflection matrix is \( \begin{pmatrix} \cos 2\alpha & \sin 2\alpha \\ \sin 2\alpha & -\cos 2\alpha \end{pmatrix} \).

[1 mark]

(e)

(i) Performing matrix multiplication of the rotation and enlargement matrices in the specified order to determine \( X \).

Multiply \( \begin{pmatrix} 5\sqrt{2} & 0 \\ 0 & 5\sqrt{2} \end{pmatrix} \) by \( \begin{pmatrix} \cos(\frac{\pi}{4}) & -\sin(\frac{\pi}{4}) \\ \sin(\frac{\pi}{4}) & \cos(\frac{\pi}{4}) \end{pmatrix} \):

\( \begin{pmatrix} 5\sqrt{2} \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} + 0 \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} & 5\sqrt{2} \times (-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}) + 0 \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \\ 0 \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} + 5\sqrt{2} \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} & 0 \times (-\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}) + 5\sqrt{2} \times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \end{pmatrix} \)

\( = \begin{pmatrix} 5 \times 1 & -5 \times 1 \\ 5 \times 1 & 5 \times 1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 5 & -5 \\ 5 & 5 \end{pmatrix} \).

So, \( X = \begin{pmatrix} 5 & -5 \\ 5 & 5 \end{pmatrix} \).

[3 marks]

(ii) substituting T, R and X

\[ \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 7 \\ 7 & -1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} \cos 2\alpha & \sin 2\alpha \\ \sin 2\alpha & -\cos 2\alpha \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} 5 & -5 \\ 5 & 5 \end{pmatrix} \]

multiplying by inverse (in any order)

\[ \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 7 \\ 7 & -1 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} 5 & -5 \\ 5 & 5 \end{pmatrix}^{-1} = \begin{pmatrix} \cos 2\alpha & \sin 2\alpha \\ \sin 2\alpha & -\cos 2\alpha \end{pmatrix} \]

\[ \begin{pmatrix} \cos 2\alpha & \sin 2\alpha \\ \sin 2\alpha & -\cos 2\alpha \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} -\frac{3}{5} & \frac{4}{5} \\ \frac{4}{5} & \frac{3}{5} \end{pmatrix} \]

\(\cos 2\alpha = -\frac{3}{5}\) AND \(\sin 2\alpha = \frac{4}{5}\)

\(\alpha = 1.11 \; (\approx 1.107148\ldots) \quad \text{OR} \quad 63.4^\circ \; (63.4349\ldots^\circ)\)

[Total 14 marks]

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