Tangoadjacency

Tangoadjacency is a term used in the context of certain combinatorial problems, particularly those related to graph theory and tiling. It describes a specific relationship between two elements within a structure or arrangement. In essence, tangoadjacency refers to a situation where two items are "adjacent" but not in the immediate, direct sense. Instead, their adjacency is mediated by a third element or a specific rule of connection.

Imagine a grid. Direct adjacency would mean cells sharing an edge. Tangoadjacency, however, might imply that two cells are considered adjacent if they are separated by exactly one other cell in a straight line, or if they are linked through a particular sequence or path. The term suggests a relationship that is "close" but not touching, requiring a slight offset or intermediate step to establish the connection. This concept is often employed when analyzing patterns, symmetries, or constraints in problems where simple neighbor relationships are insufficient. For example, in some tiling puzzles, a tile might be tangoadjacent to another if they can be placed such that a specific gap or condition is met between them, rather than being directly next to each other. The precise definition of tangoadjacency can vary depending on the specific problem domain, but the core idea remains that of a mediated or indirect adjacency.