In a triangle, what do we call the longest side opposite the largest angle?

In a triangle, the longest side that is opposite the largest angle is called the hypotenuse, but this term specifically applies to right triangles. In a right triangle, the hypotenuse is the side opposite the right angle and is always the longest side.

In the context of any triangle, regardless of whether it is a right triangle or not, the relationship still holds true: the longest side will always be opposite the largest angle due to the properties of triangles. This is a fundamental principle based on the triangle inequality theorem, which states that in any triangle, the side lengths are dependent on the measures of the angles opposite them.

The other terms provided have specific meanings that do not fit this context. The base typically refers to any side of the triangle that can be considered as the bottom side in a given orientation, but it is not always the longest. The radius refers to the distance from the center to any point on the circumference of a circle, which is not relevant to the sides of a triangle. The altitude refers to the perpendicular height from a vertex to the opposite side, also unrelated to the side lengths a triangle.

This understanding is important in geometry, especially when analyzing the properties of different types of triangles. Hence, understanding that the