Adjacent vs. Contiguous

Attribute	Adjacent	Contiguous
Definition	Next to or adjoining something else	Sharing a common boundary or touching
Relationship	Can be near or close to without touching	Physically touching or connected
Space	Can have a gap or space between	No gap or space between
Usage	Commonly used in geometry and spatial relationships	Commonly used in geography and land use planning

Definition

Adjacent and contiguous are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually have distinct meanings. Adjacent refers to things that are next to or adjoining each other, while contiguous refers to things that are in close proximity or touching. In other words, adjacent items are side by side, while contiguous items are touching or sharing a boundary.

Relationship

While both adjacent and contiguous imply some form of closeness or nearness, the relationship between the two terms is slightly different. Adjacent items are typically next to each other in a linear or spatial sense, while contiguous items are connected or touching in a more continuous or uninterrupted manner. For example, two adjacent rooms in a house might share a wall, while two contiguous pieces of land might share a border.

Usage

When it comes to usage, adjacent is often used to describe things that are next to each other in a specific order or sequence. For example, adjacent pages in a book are the ones that come right after each other. On the other hand, contiguous is more commonly used to describe things that are physically touching or connected in some way. For instance, contiguous states are those that share a border with each other.

Examples

One common example of adjacent items is a row of houses where each house is next to the one on either side. In this case, the houses are adjacent to each other because they are side by side. On the other hand, a common example of contiguous items is a block of land where each parcel shares a boundary with the one next to it. In this case, the parcels are contiguous because they are touching or connected.

Geography

In geography, the terms adjacent and contiguous are often used to describe the relationship between different regions or areas. Adjacent countries are those that share a border with each other, while contiguous countries are those that are physically touching. For example, the United States and Canada are adjacent countries because they share a border, while the countries of Lesotho and South Africa are contiguous because they are physically connected.

Mathematics

In mathematics, adjacent and contiguous are used to describe the relationship between angles or sides of geometric shapes. Adjacent angles are angles that share a common vertex and side, while contiguous sides are sides that are touching or connected. For example, in a rectangle, the top and bottom sides are adjacent because they share a common vertex, while the left and right sides are contiguous because they are touching.

Conclusion

While adjacent and contiguous are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings and implications. Adjacent items are next to each other in a linear or spatial sense, while contiguous items are touching or connected in a more continuous manner. Understanding the differences between these two terms can help clarify relationships and connections in various contexts, from geography to mathematics.