How old is an athlete that trains at 75% intensity with a target heart rate of 153 bpm?

To determine the age of an athlete training at 75% intensity with a target heart rate of 153 beats per minute (bpm), one must first calculate the maximum heart rate. A common method used to estimate maximum heart rate is the formula: 220 minus the athlete's age.

When training at a specific intensity, the target heart rate is often expressed as a percentage of the maximum heart rate. In this case, the athlete's target heart rate at 75% intensity implies that 153 bpm represents 75% of their maximum heart rate.

Using the relationship:

Target Heart Rate = Maximum Heart Rate × Intensity

We can express the maximum heart rate based on the given target heart rate:

153 bpm = Maximum Heart Rate × 0.75

To find the maximum heart rate, we rearrange the equation:

Maximum Heart Rate = 153 bpm / 0.75 = 204 bpm

Now, applying the initial formula to find the age of the athlete:

204 bpm = 220 - Age

Solving for the age gives us:

Age = 220 - 204 = 16 years old.

Thus, the athlete is 16 years old, which corresponds to the correct answer. This logical approach emphasizes the