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IOE entrance Mathematics · Chapter 4

Coordinate Geometry

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81 questions in 4 syllabus topics · 30 are 2-mark questions.

4.1 Straight lines and pair of lines

20 questions

1. The slope of the line joining the points (2, 3) and (5, 9) is:

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Slope = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁).

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Answer: B. 2

Slope = (9 − 3)/(5 − 2) = 6/3 = 2.

2. The intercepts made by the line 3x − 4y + 12 = 0 on the x-axis and y-axis respectively are:

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Convert to the intercept form x/a + y/b = 1.

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Answer: C. −4 and 3

Write as 3x − 4y = −12, i.e. x/(−4) + y/3 = 1. So x-intercept = −4 and y-intercept = 3.

3. The acute angle between the lines y = x and y = √3x is:

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Find the inclination of each line.

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Answer: C. 15°

The lines make 45° and 60° with the x-axis, so the angle between them is 60° − 45° = 15°.

4. The perpendicular distance of the point (3, 4) from the line 3x + 4y − 5 = 0 is:

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d = |ax₁ + by₁ + c|/√(a² + b²).

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Answer: D. 4

d = |3·3 + 4·4 − 5|/√(3² + 4²) = |20|/5 = 4.

5. The distance between the parallel lines 3x + 4y − 7 = 0 and 6x + 8y + 6 = 0 is:

2 marks

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Make the x and y coefficients identical before using |c₁ − c₂|/√(a² + b²).

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Answer: A. 2

Divide the second equation by 2: 3x + 4y + 3 = 0. Distance = |−7 − 3|/√(9 + 16) = 10/5 = 2.

6. The lines 2x + ky = 5 and 3x − 6y = 1 are perpendicular when k equals:

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Use a₁a₂ + b₁b₂ = 0.

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Answer: D. 1

For perpendicular lines a₁a₂ + b₁b₂ = 0: 2·3 + k(−6) = 0, so k = 1. (k = −4 would make them parallel.)

7. The equation of the line through (1, 2) perpendicular to 2x − y + 3 = 0 is:

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Swap the coefficients of x and y and change one sign.

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Answer: B. x + 2y − 5 = 0

A perpendicular line has the form x + 2y + k = 0. Through (1, 2): 1 + 4 + k = 0, so k = −5, giving x + 2y − 5 = 0.

8. The perpendicular from the origin to a line has length 4 and makes an angle of 30° with the positive x-axis. The equation of the line is:

2 marks

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Use the normal form x cos α + y sin α = p.

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Answer: A. √3x + y = 8

Normal form: x cos30° + y sin30° = 4, i.e. (√3/2)x + (1/2)y = 4, so √3x + y = 8.

9. The line passing through the point of intersection of x + y − 3 = 0 and x − y + 1 = 0 and parallel to 2x + 3y = 0 is:

2 marks

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Find the intersection point, then use 2x + 3y = k.

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Answer: C. 2x + 3y − 8 = 0

Solving, the lines meet at (1, 2). A parallel line is 2x + 3y = k; through (1, 2), k = 2 + 6 = 8. So 2x + 3y − 8 = 0.

10. The lines x + y = 2, x − y = 0 and 2x + ky = 5 are concurrent if k equals:

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Substitute the intersection of the first two lines into the third.

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Answer: C. 3

The first two lines meet at (1, 1). For concurrency (1, 1) must lie on the third line: 2 + k = 5, so k = 3.

11. The area of the triangle formed by the line 3x + 4y = 12 and the coordinate axes is:

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Area = ½ × |x-intercept| × |y-intercept|.

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Answer: C. 6 sq. units

Intercepts are 4 on the x-axis and 3 on the y-axis, so area = ½ × 4 × 3 = 6.

12. The foot of the perpendicular drawn from the origin to the line x + y = 4 is:

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The perpendicular from the origin to x + y = 4 is the line y = x.

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Answer: C. (2, 2)

The perpendicular from the origin is y = x. Solving with x + y = 4 gives (2, 2).

13. The reflection (image) of the point (2, 1) in the line x + y − 5 = 0 is:

2 marks

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Image: (x − x₁)/a = (y − y₁)/b = −2(ax₁ + by₁ + c)/(a² + b²).

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Answer: A. (4, 3)

(x − 2)/1 = (y − 1)/1 = −2(2 + 1 − 5)/(1² + 1²) = 2, so the image is (4, 3). Check: the midpoint (3, 2) lies on the line.

14. The equation of the line through (2, −3) with inclination 135° is:

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Slope = tan(inclination); then use point-slope form.

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Answer: D. x + y + 1 = 0

Slope = tan135° = −1, so y + 3 = −(x − 2), i.e. x + y + 1 = 0.

15. The line 2x + y = 5 divides the segment joining (1, 1) and (3, 4) in the ratio:

2 marks

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Ratio = −L(P₁)/L(P₂), where L(x, y) = 2x + y − 5.

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Answer: A. 2 : 5 internally

Ratio = −(2·1 + 1 − 5)/(2·3 + 4 − 5) = −(−2)/5 = 2/5, positive, so 2 : 5 internally. Check: the point (11/7, 13/7) satisfies 2x + y = 5.

16. The acute angle between the pair of lines x² − 4xy + y² = 0 is:

2 marks

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tanθ = 2√(h² − ab)/|a + b|.

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Answer: B. 60°

Here a = 1, h = −2, b = 1. tanθ = 2√(h² − ab)/|a + b| = 2√(4 − 1)/2 = √3, so θ = 60°.

17. The pair of straight lines represented by x² − 5xy + 6y² = 0 is:

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Factorise the quadratic expression in x and y.

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Answer: A. x − 2y = 0 and x − 3y = 0

x² − 5xy + 6y² factorises as (x − 2y)(x − 3y).

18. The equation kx² + 6xy + 9y² = 0 represents a pair of coincident lines when k equals:

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Condition for coincident lines: h² = ab.

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Answer: C. 1

Coincident lines require h² = ab: 3² = 9k, so k = 1. Indeed x² + 6xy + 9y² = (x + 3y)².

19. The pair of lines 2x² + 7xy + ky² = 0 is perpendicular when k equals:

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Perpendicular pair: coefficient of x² + coefficient of y² = 0.

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Answer: B. −2

For ax² + 2hxy + by² = 0 to give perpendicular lines, a + b = 0, so 2 + k = 0 and k = −2.

20. If m₁ and m₂ are the slopes of the lines represented by x² + 4xy − 3y² = 0, then m₁ + m₂ equals:

2 marks

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Substitute y = mx and use the sum of roots of the quadratic in m.

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Answer: D. 4/3

Put y = mx: 1 + 4m − 3m² = 0, i.e. 3m² − 4m − 1 = 0. Sum of roots = 4/3. (In general m₁ + m₂ = −2h/b.)

4.2 Circles, tangents and normals

20 questions

21. The centre and radius of the circle x² + y² − 4x + 6y − 12 = 0 are:

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Centre (−g, −f), radius √(g² + f² − c).

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Answer: B. (2, −3) and 5

Centre (−g, −f) = (2, −3); r = √(4 + 9 + 12) = √25 = 5.

22. The equation of the circle with centre (1, −2) passing through (4, 2) is:

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Radius = distance from the centre to the given point.

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Answer: D. x² + y² − 2x + 4y − 20 = 0

r² = (4 − 1)² + (2 + 2)² = 25. (x − 1)² + (y + 2)² = 25 expands to x² + y² − 2x + 4y − 20 = 0.

23. The equation of the circle drawn on the segment joining (1, 2) and (3, −4) as diameter is:

2 marks

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Diameter form: (x − x₁)(x − x₂) + (y − y₁)(y − y₂) = 0.

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Answer: A. x² + y² − 4x + 2y − 5 = 0

(x − 1)(x − 3) + (y − 2)(y + 4) = 0 gives x² − 4x + 3 + y² + 2y − 8 = 0, i.e. x² + y² − 4x + 2y − 5 = 0.

24. The curve x = 3 + 5cosθ, y = −1 + 5sinθ represents the circle:

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Eliminate θ using cos²θ + sin²θ = 1.

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Answer: A. (x − 3)² + (y + 1)² = 25

(x − 3)/5 = cosθ and (y + 1)/5 = sinθ; squaring and adding gives (x − 3)² + (y + 1)² = 25.

25. The length of the tangent from the point (5, 3) to the circle x² + y² − 2x + 4y − 4 = 0 is:

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Length of tangent = √S₁, where S₁ is the circle expression at the point.

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Answer: C. 4√2

S₁ = 25 + 9 − 10 + 12 − 4 = 32, so the length = √32 = 4√2.

26. The equation of the tangent to the circle x² + y² = 25 at the point (3, 4) is:

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Use xx₁ + yy₁ = a².

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Answer: A. 3x + 4y = 25

Tangent at (x₁, y₁) to x² + y² = a² is xx₁ + yy₁ = a², giving 3x + 4y = 25.

27. The line y = x + c touches the circle x² + y² = 8 when c equals:

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For y = mx + c to touch x² + y² = a², c² = a²(1 + m²).

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Answer: D. ±4

Tangency condition c² = a²(1 + m²) = 8(1 + 1) = 16, so c = ±4.

28. The line 3x + 4y = k touches the circle x² + y² − 2x − 4y − 4 = 0 for:

2 marks

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Distance of the centre from the line must equal the radius.

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Answer: B. k = 26 or k = −4

Centre (1, 2), radius √(1 + 4 + 4) = 3. Need |3 + 8 − k|/5 = 3, so |11 − k| = 15 and k = 26 or −4.

29. The equation of the normal to the circle x² + y² − 2x + 2y − 7 = 0 at the point (1, 2) is:

2 marks

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Every normal to a circle passes through its centre.

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Answer: C. x = 1

The centre is (1, −1). The normal passes through the point (1, 2) and the centre (1, −1), so it is x = 1. (y = 2 is the tangent there.)

30. The equation x² + y² + 4x − 6y + k = 0 represents a circle of radius 5 when k equals:

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Use r² = g² + f² − c.

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Answer: C. −12

r² = g² + f² − c = 4 + 9 − k = 25, so k = −12.

31. The circle of radius 3 that touches both coordinate axes and has its centre in the first quadrant is:

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Touching both axes means the centre is (r, r).

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Answer: A. x² + y² − 6x − 6y + 9 = 0

The centre is (3, 3) and r = 3: (x − 3)² + (y − 3)² = 9, i.e. x² + y² − 6x − 6y + 9 = 0.

32. The circle with centre (3, 4) that touches the x-axis is:

2 marks

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The radius equals the distance of the centre from the x-axis.

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Answer: B. x² + y² − 6x − 8y + 9 = 0

Touching the x-axis means r = |y-coordinate of centre| = 4. (x − 3)² + (y − 4)² = 16 gives c = 9 + 16 − 16 = 9.

33. With respect to the circle x² + y² − 4x + 2y − 11 = 0, the point (1, 2) lies:

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Check the sign of S₁ at the point.

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Answer: A. inside the circle

S₁ = 1 + 4 − 4 + 4 − 11 = −6 < 0, so the point is inside. (The centre is (2, −1), not (1, 2).)

34. The number of common tangents to the circles x² + y² = 4 and x² + y² − 10x + 16 = 0 is:

2 marks

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Compare the distance between centres with r₁ + r₂ and |r₁ − r₂|.

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Answer: D. 3

C₁ = (0, 0), r₁ = 2; C₂ = (5, 0), r₂ = √(25 − 16) = 3. C₁C₂ = 5 = r₁ + r₂, so the circles touch externally and have 3 common tangents.

35. The circle passing through the origin and making intercepts 4 and 6 on the positive x-axis and positive y-axis respectively is:

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A circle through the origin is x² + y² + 2gx + 2fy = 0; use the two intercept points.

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Answer: C. x² + y² − 4x − 6y = 0

The circle passes through (0, 0), (4, 0) and (0, 6); the segment joining (4, 0) and (0, 6) is a diameter, giving x(x − 4) + y(y − 6) = 0.

36. The length of the chord cut off by the line x = 3 on the circle x² + y² = 25 is:

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Put x = 3 in the circle and find the two y-values.

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Answer: C. 8

At x = 3, y² = 16, so y = ±4 and the chord length is 8.

37. The tangents to the circle x² + y² = 4 which are parallel to the line 3x + 4y = 0 are:

2 marks

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A parallel line is 3x + 4y = k; set its distance from the centre equal to the radius.

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Answer: B. 3x + 4y = ±10

Take 3x + 4y = k. The distance from the origin must equal 2: |k|/5 = 2, so k = ±10.

38. The circle x² + y² − 6x + 8y = 0 passes through the origin. The other end of the diameter through the origin is:

2 marks

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The centre is the midpoint of every diameter.

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Answer: D. (6, −8)

The centre is (3, −4). The centre is the midpoint of the diameter, so the other end is (2·3 − 0, 2·(−4) − 0) = (6, −8).

39. The circle concentric with x² + y² − 4x − 6y − 3 = 0 and having twice its radius is:

2 marks

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Keep g and f the same; find the new c from r² = g² + f² − c.

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Answer: B. x² + y² − 4x − 6y − 51 = 0

Centre (2, 3), r = √(4 + 9 + 3) = 4. The new radius is 8, so c = g² + f² − r² = 13 − 64 = −51.

40. The line x cosα + y sinα = p touches the circle x² + y² = a² if:

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Perpendicular distance from the centre = radius.

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Answer: B. p² = a²

The distance of the centre (0, 0) from the line is |p|/√(cos²α + sin²α) = |p|. Tangency requires |p| = a, i.e. p² = a².

4.3 Parabola, ellipse and hyperbola

26 questions

41. If the line x + y − 1 = 0 touches the parabola y² = kx, then the value of k is

IOE model question 2080

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Substitute the line into the parabola and set the discriminant to zero.

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Answer: D. −4

Put x = 1 − y: y² = k(1 − y), so y² + ky − k = 0. Tangency needs a zero discriminant: k² + 4k = 0, so k = 0 or k = −4. k = 0 is not a parabola, so k = −4.

42. The focus of the parabola y² = 12x is:

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Compare with y² = 4ax.

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Answer: B. (3, 0)

Compare with y² = 4ax: 4a = 12, so a = 3 and the focus is (a, 0) = (3, 0).

43. The directrix of the parabola x² = −8y is:

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For x² = −4ay the directrix is y = a.

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Answer: C. y = 2

x² = −4ay with a = 2 opens downward, focus (0, −2), so the directrix is y = 2.

44. The length of the latus rectum of the parabola y² = −20x is:

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Latus rectum of a parabola = 4a.

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Answer: C. 20

Latus rectum = 4a = 20 (the sign only tells the direction of opening).

45. The focus of the parabola y² − 4y − 8x + 12 = 0 is:

2 marks

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Complete the square in y to get (y − k)² = 4a(x − h).

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Answer: C. (3, 2)

(y − 2)² = 8x − 8 = 8(x − 1). Vertex (1, 2), 4a = 8 so a = 2; focus = (1 + 2, 2) = (3, 2).

46. The focal distance of the point on the parabola y² = 8x whose x-coordinate is 6 is:

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Focal distance on y² = 4ax is x + a.

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Answer: B. 8

For y² = 4ax, focal distance = x + a = 6 + 2 = 8.

47. The equation of the parabola with vertex at the origin and focus at (0, −3) is:

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Decide the axis and direction from the focus, then use 4a.

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Answer: A. x² = −12y

The focus lies on the negative y-axis with a = 3, so the parabola is x² = −4ay = −12y.

48. The line y = 2x + c is a tangent to the parabola y² = 16x when c equals:

2 marks

Show hint

Tangency condition for y² = 4ax: c = a/m.

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Answer: D. 2

For y² = 4ax, y = mx + c is a tangent when c = a/m. Here a = 4, m = 2, so c = 2.

49. Which conic section has eccentricity exactly equal to 1?

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Recall the range of e for each conic.

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Answer: B. Parabola

A parabola has e = 1; an ellipse has 0 < e < 1, a hyperbola e > 1, and a circle e = 0.

50. The eccentricity of the ellipse x²/25 + y²/16 = 1 is:

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For an ellipse, e² = 1 − b²/a².

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Answer: A. 3/5

e² = 1 − b²/a² = 1 − 16/25 = 9/25, so e = 3/5.

51. The foci of the ellipse x²/25 + y²/9 = 1 are:

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ae = √(a² − b²).

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Answer: D. (±4, 0)

c² = a² − b² = 25 − 9 = 16, so c = 4 and the foci are (±4, 0) since the major axis is along x.

52. The length of the latus rectum of the ellipse x²/16 + y²/9 = 1 is:

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Latus rectum of an ellipse = 2b²/a.

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Answer: C. 9/2

Latus rectum = 2b²/a = 2·9/4 = 9/2.

53. For the ellipse 9x² + 4y² = 36, the major axis is:

2 marks

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Write in standard form and see which denominator is larger.

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Answer: B. of length 6 along the y-axis

Dividing by 36: x²/4 + y²/9 = 1. The larger denominator 9 is under y², so the major axis is along the y-axis with length 2·3 = 6.

54. The ellipse with foci (±3, 0) and eccentricity 1/2 is:

2 marks

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Use ae = 3 to find a, then b² = a²(1 − e²).

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Answer: C. x²/36 + y²/27 = 1

ae = 3 with e = 1/2 gives a = 6. b² = a² − a²e² = 36 − 9 = 27.

55. The directrices of the ellipse x²/9 + y²/5 = 1 are:

2 marks

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Directrices of an ellipse: x = ±a/e.

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Answer: D. x = ±9/2

a = 3, ae = √(9 − 5) = 2, so e = 2/3. Directrices: x = ±a/e = ±3/(2/3) = ±9/2.

56. For any point on the ellipse x²/49 + y²/24 = 1, the sum of its distances from the two foci is:

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Sum of focal distances = length of major axis.

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Answer: C. 14

The sum of the focal distances of any point on an ellipse equals the major axis 2a = 2·7 = 14.

57. If the latus rectum of an ellipse is equal to half of its major axis, the eccentricity is:

2 marks

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Set 2b²/a = a and use e² = 1 − b²/a².

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Answer: A. 1/√2

2b²/a = a gives b² = a²/2. Then e² = 1 − b²/a² = 1/2, so e = 1/√2.

58. The eccentricity of the hyperbola x²/16 − y²/9 = 1 is:

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For a hyperbola, e² = 1 + b²/a².

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Answer: D. 5/4

e² = 1 + b²/a² = 1 + 9/16 = 25/16, so e = 5/4.

59. The foci of the hyperbola y²/9 − x²/16 = 1 are:

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For a hyperbola c² = a² + b²; the foci lie on the transverse axis.

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Answer: B. (0, ±5)

The transverse axis is along y. c² = 9 + 16 = 25, so the foci are (0, ±5).

60. The eccentricity of a rectangular (equilateral) hyperbola is:

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Put a = b in e² = 1 + b²/a².

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Answer: C. √2

For a rectangular hyperbola a = b, so e² = 1 + 1 = 2 and e = √2.

61. The length of the latus rectum of the hyperbola x²/9 − y²/16 = 1 is:

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Latus rectum of a hyperbola = 2b²/a.

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Answer: B. 32/3

Latus rectum = 2b²/a = 2·16/3 = 32/3.

62. The equation x²/(9 − k) + y²/(5 − k) = 1 represents a hyperbola when:

2 marks

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The denominators must have opposite signs.

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Answer: B. 5 < k < 9

A hyperbola needs the two denominators to have opposite signs: 9 − k > 0 and 5 − k < 0, i.e. 5 < k < 9. (For k < 5 it is an ellipse.)

63. The hyperbola whose vertices are (±3, 0) and foci are (±5, 0) is:

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For a hyperbola b² = c² − a².

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Answer: A. x²/9 − y²/16 = 1

a = 3, c = 5, so b² = c² − a² = 25 − 9 = 16.

64. The asymptotes of the hyperbola x²/9 − y²/4 = 1 are:

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Asymptotes: y = ±(b/a)x.

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Answer: B. y = ±(2/3)x

Asymptotes of x²/a² − y²/b² = 1 are y = ±(b/a)x = ±(2/3)x.

65. The eccentricity of a hyperbola is 2. The eccentricity of its conjugate hyperbola is:

2 marks

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Use 1/e₁² + 1/e₂² = 1.

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Answer: C. 2/√3

For conjugate hyperbolas 1/e₁² + 1/e₂² = 1. So 1/4 + 1/e₂² = 1, giving e₂² = 4/3 and e₂ = 2/√3.

66. The centre of the hyperbola 9x² − 16y² − 18x − 64y − 199 = 0 is:

2 marks

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Complete the squares in x and in y.

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Answer: B. (1, −2)

9(x − 1)² − 9 − 16(y + 2)² + 64 = 199 gives 9(x − 1)² − 16(y + 2)² = 144, i.e. (x − 1)²/16 − (y + 2)²/9 = 1. Centre (1, −2).

4.4 Coordinates in space and the plane

15 questions

67. The distance between the points (1, 2, 3) and (4, 6, 15) is:

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d = √[(x₂ − x₁)² + (y₂ − y₁)² + (z₂ − z₁)²].

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Answer: C. 13

d = √(3² + 4² + 12²) = √(9 + 16 + 144) = √169 = 13.

68. The point dividing the join of A(2, −1, 3) and B(5, 2, −3) internally in the ratio 1 : 2 is:

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Section formula: (mx₂ + nx₁)/(m + n), etc.

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Answer: C. (3, 0, 1)

P = (1·B + 2·A)/3 = ((5 + 4)/3, (2 − 2)/3, (−3 + 6)/3) = (3, 0, 1). (4, 1, −1) is the 2 : 1 point.

69. The direction cosines of a line with direction ratios 2, −1, 2 are:

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Divide each direction ratio by √(a² + b² + c²).

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Answer: B. 2/3, −1/3, 2/3

√(2² + 1² + 2²) = 3, so the direction cosines are 2/3, −1/3, 2/3.

70. If a line makes angles α, β, γ with the coordinate axes, then sin²α + sin²β + sin²γ equals:

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Use cos²α + cos²β + cos²γ = 1.

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Answer: B. 2

sin²α + sin²β + sin²γ = 3 − (cos²α + cos²β + cos²γ) = 3 − 1 = 2.

71. A line makes an angle of 45° with the x-axis and 60° with the y-axis. The acute angle it makes with the z-axis is:

2 marks

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Use cos²α + cos²β + cos²γ = 1.

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Answer: B. 60°

cos²γ = 1 − cos²45° − cos²60° = 1 − 1/2 − 1/4 = 1/4, so cosγ = ±1/2 and the acute angle is 60°.

72. The angle between two lines with direction ratios 1, 2, 2 and 2, 2, 1 is:

2 marks

Show hint

cosθ = (a₁a₂ + b₁b₂ + c₁c₂)/(√(a₁² + b₁² + c₁²)·√(a₂² + b₂² + c₂²)).

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Answer: A. cos⁻¹(8/9)

cosθ = (1·2 + 2·2 + 2·1)/(√9·√9) = 8/9.

73. Lines with direction ratios 1, k, 3 and 2, 1, −2 are perpendicular when k equals:

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Use a₁a₂ + b₁b₂ + c₁c₂ = 0.

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Answer: B. 4

Perpendicular: 1·2 + k·1 + 3·(−2) = 0, so k − 4 = 0 and k = 4.

74. The direction cosines of the line joining (1, 2, 3) and (3, 5, 9) are:

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Direction ratios = differences of coordinates; then normalise.

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Answer: C. 2/7, 3/7, 6/7

Direction ratios: 3 − 1, 5 − 2, 9 − 3 = 2, 3, 6; √(4 + 9 + 36) = 7, so the direction cosines are 2/7, 3/7, 6/7.

75. The equation of the plane making intercepts 2, 3 and 6 on the x-, y- and z-axes respectively is:

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Intercept form: x/a + y/b + z/c = 1.

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Answer: A. 3x + 2y + z = 6

x/2 + y/3 + z/6 = 1; multiplying by 6 gives 3x + 2y + z = 6.

76. The perpendicular distance of the point (1, 1, 1) from the plane 2x + y + 2z + 4 = 0 is:

2 marks

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d = |ax₁ + by₁ + cz₁ + d|/√(a² + b² + c²).

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Answer: C. 3

d = |2 + 1 + 2 + 4|/√(4 + 1 + 4) = 9/3 = 3.

77. The angle between the planes 2x − y + z = 6 and x + y + 2z = 7 is:

2 marks

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The angle between two planes equals the angle between their normals.

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Answer: A. 60°

Angle between the normals: cosθ = (2 − 1 + 2)/(√6·√6) = 3/6 = 1/2, so θ = 60°.

78. The plane through (1, −1, 2) whose normal has direction ratios 2, 3, −1 is:

2 marks

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Point-normal form: a(x − x₁) + b(y − y₁) + c(z − z₁) = 0.

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Answer: B. 2x + 3y − z + 3 = 0

2(x − 1) + 3(y + 1) − (z − 2) = 0 gives 2x + 3y − z + 3 = 0. Check: 2 − 3 − 2 + 3 = 0.

79. The planes 2x + ky + 3z = 5 and 3x − 2y + 4z = 7 are perpendicular when k equals:

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Use a₁a₂ + b₁b₂ + c₁c₂ = 0 for the normals.

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Answer: C. 9

Normals must be perpendicular: 2·3 + k(−2) + 3·4 = 0, so 18 − 2k = 0 and k = 9.

80. The centroid of the triangle with vertices (1, 2, 3), (3, 0, 1) and (2, 4, −1) is:

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Average the coordinates of the three vertices.

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Answer: A. (2, 2, 1)

Centroid = ((1 + 3 + 2)/3, (2 + 0 + 4)/3, (3 + 1 − 1)/3) = (2, 2, 1).

81. The distance of the point (3, −4, 5) from the x-axis is:

2 marks

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Distance from the x-axis = √(y² + z²).

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Answer: D. √41

The foot of the perpendicular on the x-axis is (3, 0, 0), so the distance = √(4² + 5²) = √41.

IOE has not released its actual papers since the exam moved to computers in 2072, so “past questions” sold elsewhere are recalled from memory. Here, questions tagged “IOE model question 2080” are IOE’s own published samples. Every other question was written for this site to match the 2080 syllabus and the exam’s difficulty, and each answer was checked by solving the question again independently. Spot a mistake? Tell us on the feedback page.