Final answer:
In water skiing, with ropes of equal length attached to the same point, Kim and Cassandra will form an isosceles triangle where the distance between them is always less than the length of the ropes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When water skiing, if Kim and Cassandra are holding onto ropes of the same length and are tied to the same point on the back of the speed boat, they will indeed form a triangle with the point where the ropes are tied. However, the triangle that is formed is an isosceles triangle, with the two ropes as equal sides, and the distance between Kim and Cassandra as the base. Isosceles triangles have two equal sides which are longer than the base if the angles at the base are acute.
Thus, when the boat is going at full speed and the ropes are taut, the distance between Kim and Cassandra (the base of the triangle) will be smaller than the length of the ropes. Therefore, the distance between Kim and Cassandra is never equal to the length of the ropes when they are fully taut and the boat is going straight.