Applied Mathematics APM01A1, 2023

February 24, 2023

Tutorial 2 Solutions
Question 1
Consider the following rectangular box with the origin fixed at point E.

z (Up)

B
9m
A

y (North)
F
E D C

3m
12 m
G

x (East)

1.a)
A = (0, 0, 3) G = (12, 9, 0)
B = (0, 9, 3) H = (12, 0, 0)
C = (12, 9, 3) E = (0, 0, 0)

1
1.b)
−−→
x comp of EC = 12 − 0 = 12 m
−−→
y comp of EC = 9 − 0 = 9 m
−−→
z comp of EC = 3 − 0 = 3 m

−−→
x comp of HB = 0 − 12 = −12 m
−−→
y comp of HB = 9 − 0 = 9 m
−−→
z comp of HB = 3 − 0 = 3 m

−→
x comp of AG = 12 − 0 = 12 m
−→
y comp of AG = 9 − 0 = 9 m
−→
z comp of AG = 0 − 3 = −3 m

−→
1.c) We first need to calculate the magnitude of AG.
−→ p √
||AG|| = 122 + 92 + (−3)2 = 3 26 m

The direction cosines for the x, y and z directions are

4
l = cos(α) = √
26
3
m = cos(β) = √
26
−1
n = cos(γ) = √
26

−→
1.d) Here, we need to find the direction cosine for AG along the y-direction. The angle
−→ −−→
between AG and AB is simply β.
 
−1 3
β = cos √ = 53.96o .
26

Question 2
2.a) From the information given, i.e., ∠P OX = 50o and ∠P OY = 60o , we are able to
find the direction cosines along the x and y directions:

2
 −−→
(OP )x
l = cos(50) = 0.643 =
−−→
||OP ||
−−→
1 (OP )y
m = cos(60) = = −−→ ,
2 ||OP ||
−−→ −−→ −−→
where (OP )x and (OP )y are the x and y components of OP respectively. From the
figure below

−−→
(OP )y
O B

θ
−−→
(OP )x

Q
we can calculate
−−→
m (OP )y
= tan(θ) = −−→ ⇒ θ = 37.88o North of East
l (OP )x

2.b) Using the result that the square of the direction cosines equals 1, l2 + m2 + n2 = 1,
−−→
we can solve for n, obtain the angle OP makes with the positive z direction, and
hence obain the angle of elevation.

n = 0.7956, ⇒ γ = cos−1 (n) = 54.524o

angle of elevation = 90 − 54.524 = 35.476o .

−−→
2.c) Using Pythagoras, we can solve for ||OB||:
q
−−→ −−→ −−→ p
||OB|| = ||OP ||2 − ||P B||2 = 252 − 202 = 15 m

Next, from triangle

3
 15
O B
ϕ

15 −−→
cos(ϕ) = cos(41.41) = −−→ ⇒ ||OQ|| = 20 m.
|OQ|
Finally, one can then find the x coordinate:
−−→
x = ||OQ|| sin(41.41) = 20 sin(41.41) = 13.23 m.

Question 3
→
−
b D
A E

→
−
a

B
C

−→ →
−
AE = 3 b
−→ →
−
AC = →−
a + b
−−→ −→ →
−
EC = AC − 3 b
→
−
= →
−
a −2b.

4
Question 4

A D

→
−
v

→
−
u
B
C

−−→ →
−
u →
−
v
AB = −
2 2
−−→ →
−
u →
−
v
BC = +
2 2