1.

Port A is defined to be the origin of a set of coordinate axes and port B is located at the point
(70, 30), where distances are measured in kilometres. A ship S1 sails from port A at 10:00 in a
10

t
20

straight line such that its position t hours after 10:00 is given by r =
.
A speedboat S2 is capable of three times the speed of S1 and is to meet S1 by travelling the
shortest possible distance. What is the latest time that S2 can leave port B?
(Total 7 marks)

2.

METHOD 1
equation of journey of ship S1
10

t
20

r =
1

equation of journey of speedboat S2 ,setting off k minutes later

70
60

(t k )

30
30

r =
2

M1A1A1

Note: Award M1 for perpendicular direction, A1 for speed, A1 for

change in parameter (e.g. by using t k or T, k being the time
difference between the departure of the ships).
10 70
60

(t k )

20 30
30

solve
t

(M1)

Note: M mark is for equating their two expressions.

10t = 70 60t + 60k
20t = 30 + 30t 30k

M1

Note: M mark is for obtaining two equations involving two different parameters.
7t 6k = 7
t + 3k = 3
28
k = 15
latest time is 11:52

A1
A1

METHOD 2
y

tim e 2 6 5
ta k e n t
10 58

S (2 6 ,5 2 ) tim e ta k e n
t - k
22 5
B (7 0 ,3 0 )

(A )

SB = 22 5
(by perpendicular distance)
SA = 26 5

M1A1
M1A1

(by Pythagoras or coordinates)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

26 5

t = 10 5
22 5

A1

t k = 30 5
28
15
k=
leading to latest time 11:52

A1
A1
[7]

2.

The equations of three planes, are given by

ax + 2y + z = 3
x + (a + 1)y + 3z = 1
2x + y + (a + 2)z = k
where a
(a)

Given that a = 0, show that the three planes intersect at a point.

(3)

(b)

Find the value of a such that the three planes do not meet at a point.
(5)

(c)

Given a such that the three planes do not meet at a point, find the value of k such that the
planes meet in one line and find an equation of this line in the form
x x0
l

y y0 m
z z
n
0
.
(6)
(Total 14 mark)

R.

(a)

0 2 1

1 1 3
2 1 2

x 3

y 1
z k

0 2 1
1 1 3
2 1 2

= 0 2( 2 + 6) + ( 1 + 2) = 7
since determinant 0 unique solution to the system planes
intersect in a point

M1A1
R1
AG

Note: For any method, including row reduction, leading to the explicit
6 5k 10 k 1 2k
,
,

7
7
7 , award M1 for an attempt at
solution
a correct method, A1 for two correct coordinates and A1 for
a third correct coordinate.

(b)

a
2
1
1 a 1
3
2
1
a2
= a((a + 1)(a + 2) 3) 2(1(a + 2) + 6) + (1 + 2(a + 1))
M1(A1)
planes not meeting in a point no unique solution i.e. determinant = 0(M1)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

a(a + 3a 1) + (2a 8) + (2a + 1) = 0

3
2
a + 3a + 3a 7 = 0
a=1

A1
A1
[5]

(c)

1 2 1 3

0 4 4 4
2 1 3 k

3
1 2 1

4
0 4 4
0 5 5 6k

3
1 2 1

4
0 4 4
0 0 0 4 4k

r1 r2
M1

2r1 r3

(A1)

4r3 5r2

for an infinite number of solutions to exist, 4 + 4k = 0 k = 1

(A1)
A1

x + 2y + z = 3
y+z=1

M1

x 1
1

y 1 1
z 0
1

A1

Note: Accept methods involving elimination.

x 2
1
x 0
1

y 0 1 or y 2 1
z 1
1
z 1
1

.
Note: Accept any equivalent form e.g.
x

y
z
Award A0 if
or r = is absent.
3.

The system of equations

2x y + 3z = 2
3x + y + 2z = 2
x + 2y + az = b
is known to have more than one solution. Find the value of a and the value of b.
(Total 5 marks)

R.

EITHER
using row reduction (or attempting to eliminate a variable)
2 1 3 2

3 1 2 2 2 R 2 3R1
1 2 a b 2 R3 R1

2 1
3
2

5 10 R 2 / 5
0 5
0 3 2a 3 2b 2

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

M1

A1
3

Note: For an algebraic solution award A1 for two correct equations in two variables.

2 1
3
2

1
2
0 1
0 3 2a 3 2b 2 R3 3R 2

2 1
3
2

1 2
0 1
0 0 2a 6 2b 8

Note: Accept alternative correct row reductions.

recognition of the need for 4 zeroes
so for multiple solutions a = 3 and b = 4

M1
A1A1

OR
2 1 3
3 1 2 0
1 2 a

M1

2(a 4) + (3a + 2) + 3(6 + 1) = 0

5a + 15 = 0
a = 3
2 1 2
3 1 2 0
1 2
b

A1

M1
A1

2(b + 4) + (3b 2) + 2(6 + 1) = 0

5b + 20 = 0
b = 4

A1
[5]

4.

The three planes

2x 2y z = 3
4x + 5y 2z = 3
3x + 4y 3z = 7
intersect at the point with coordinates (a, b, c).
(a)

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

(b)

The equations of three other planes are

(2)

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)

R.
(a) use GDC or manual method to find a, b and c
obtain a = 2, b = 1, c = 3 (in any identifiable form)
(b)

use GDC or manual method to solve second set of equations

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

(M1)
A1
(M1)

4 11t
7t
;y
2
2 , z = t (or equivalent)
obtain x =
2
5.5

0 t 3.5
0
1

(accept equivalent vector forms)

r=

M1A1

[6]

Note: Final A1 requires r = or equivalent.

5.

(A1)

Consider the plane with equation 4x 2y z = 1 and the line given by the parametric equations
x = 3 2
y = (2k 1) +
z = 1 + k.
Given that the line is perpendicular to the plane, find
(a)

the value of k;

(4)

(b)

the coordinates of the point of intersection of the line and the plane.
(4)
(Total 8 marks)

R.

(a)

a=

2 tothe plane
1

e 1
k

is parallel to the line

(A1)(A1)

Note: Award A1 for each correct vector written down, even if not identified.
line plane e parallel to a
4
2

1
2 t 1 k
2
1
k

since

(b)

4(3 2) 2

2 =1

(M1)A1

(M1)(A1)

Note: FT their value of k as far as possible.

8
= 7
5 8 3
P , ,
7 7 7

A1
A1
[8]

6.
Consider the planes defined by the equations x + y + 2z = 2, 2x y + 3z = 2 and
5x y + az = 5 where a is a real number.
(a)

If a = 4 find the coordinates of the point of intersection of the three planes.

(2)

(b)

(i)

Find the value of a for which the planes do not meet at a unique point.

(ii)

For this value of a show that the three planes do not have any common point.
(6)
(Total 8 marks)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

 1 1 2
x
2

2 1 3 , X y and B 2
5 1 4
z
5

R.
(a) let A =
11 7 1
, ,

point of intersection is 12 12 4 (or (0.917, 0.583, 0.25))

(b)

(M1)
A1

METHOD 1

(i)

(ii)

1 1 2

2 1 3 0
5 1 a

det
3a + 24 = 0
a=8

1 1 2 2

2 1 3 2
5 1 8 5

consider the augmented matrix

1 1
2 2 1 0 53 0

0 3 1 2 or 0 1 13 0

0 0
0 1 0 0 0 1
use row reduction to obtain
(or equivalent)
any valid reason
(e.g. as the last row is not all zeros, the planes do not meet)

M1
(A1)
A1

N1

M1

A1
R1
N0

METHOD 2
use of row reduction (or equivalent manipulation of equations)
1 1 2 2
1 1
2
2

1 2
2 1 3 2 0 3
5 1 a 5
0 6 a 10 5

e.g.

M1

A1A1

Note: Award an A1 for each correctly reduced row.

(i)

a 10 = 2 a = 8

(ii)

when a = 8, row 3 2 row 2

M1A1

N1

R1

N0
[8]

7.
Find the vector equation of the line of intersection of the three planes represented by the
following system of equations.
2x 7y + 5z =1
6x + 3y z = 1
14x 23y +13z = 5
IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

(Total 6 marks)

R.

METHOD 1
(from GDC)

1
1

6 12

2 1

0 1 3 6

0 0 0 0

1 0

(M1)

1
1
x
6
12

A1

2
1
y
3
6

A1

r=

1
1
i
12
6

j i j k
3

A1A1A1

N3

METHOD 2
(Elimination method either for equations or row reduction of matrix)
Eliminating one of the variables

M1A1

Finding a point on the line

(M1)A1

Finding the direction of the line

M1

The vector equation of the line

A1

N3
[6]

8.

(a)

Find the set of values of k for which the following system of equations has no solution.
x + 2y 3z = k
3x + y + 2z = 4
5x + 7z = 5
(4)

(b)

Describe the geometrical relationship of the three planes represented by this system of
equations.
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

1 2 3 k

3 1 2 4
5 0 7 5

R.
(a)
R1 2 R2
5 0 7 k 8

4
3 1 2
5 0 7
5

R1 + R3

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

M1

(A1)

 0 0 0 k 3

4
3 1 2
5 0 7
5

Hence no solutions if k
(b)

(A1)
A1

,k3

Two planes meet in a line and the third plane is parallel to that line.

A1
[5]

9.

(a)

Show that the following system of equations will have a unique solution when a 1.
x + 3y z = 0
3x + 5y z = 0
2
x 5y + (2 a)z = 9 a
(5)

(b)

State the solution in terms of a.

(6)

(c)

Hence, solve
x + 3y z = 0
3x + 5y z = 0
x 5y + z = 8
(2)
(Total 13 marks)

R.

(a)

M1

(M1)

M1
When a = 1 the augmented matrix is

A1
R1

Hence the system is inconsistent a 1

(b)

When a 1, (a 1)z = 9 a
2
(a + 1)z = a 9
a2 9
z
a 1
y

2y z = 0

M1A1

1
a 9
z
2
2( a 1)

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition

M1A1
8

 3( a 2 9) 2( a 2 9) 9 a 2

2( a 1)
2( a 1)
x = 3y + z = 2( a 1)
9 a2 a2 9 a2 9

2(a 1) , 2( a 1) , a 1

when a 1
The unique solution is

(c)

2a=1 a=1
8 8 8
The solution is , ,
4 4 2 or (2, 2, 4)

M1A1

M1
A1
[13]

IB Questionbank Mathematics Higher Level 3rd edition