Relative to an origin O, the position vectors of the points A and B are given by
\(\overrightarrow{OA} = \begin{pmatrix} -2 \\ 3 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}\) and \(\overrightarrow{OB} = \begin{pmatrix} 4 \\ 1 \\ p \end{pmatrix}\).
(i) Find the value of p for which \(\overrightarrow{OA}\) is perpendicular to \(\overrightarrow{OB}\).
(ii) Find the values of p for which the magnitude of \(\overrightarrow{AB}\) is 7.
Solution
(i) For \(\overrightarrow{OA}\) to be perpendicular to \(\overrightarrow{OB}\), their dot product must be zero:
\((-2)(4) + (3)(1) + (1)(p) = 0\)
\(-8 + 3 + p = 0\)
\(p = 5\)
(ii) The vector \(\overrightarrow{AB} = \overrightarrow{OB} - \overrightarrow{OA}\) is given by:
\(\overrightarrow{AB} = \begin{pmatrix} 4 \\ 1 \\ p \end{pmatrix} - \begin{pmatrix} -2 \\ 3 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 6 \\ -2 \\ p-1 \end{pmatrix}\)
The magnitude of \(\overrightarrow{AB}\) is 7:
\(\sqrt{6^2 + (-2)^2 + (p-1)^2} = 7\)
\(\sqrt{36 + 4 + (p-1)^2} = 7\)
\(36 + 4 + (p-1)^2 = 49\)
\((p-1)^2 = 9\)
\(p-1 = 3\) or \(p-1 = -3\)
\(p = 4\) or \(p = -2\)
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