In a right triangle, which side is referred to as 'adjacent'?

In a right triangle, the 'adjacent' side specifically refers to the side that is next to the angle of interest, which helps establish the relationship between the sides and the angles involved. When examining trigonometric functions, such as sine, cosine, and tangent, identifying which side is adjacent is crucial for setting up the correct ratios.

For example, if one is analyzing an angle in the triangle (not the right angle), the side that is directly connected to that angle, but not the longest side (the hypotenuse), is the adjacent side. This side works alongside the opposite side to help define the tangent and cosine functions for that angle.

In context, the terms opposite, adjacent, and hypotenuse help to distinguish the roles of each side concerning the specific angles in the triangle, which is essential for solving problems involving trigonometry in these geometric figures.