Cardio
Percentage-of-maximum target
The simpler convention. It ignores the resting rate entirely, so it sits lower than Karvonen whenever resting rate is below roughly a fifth of the maximum.
The Formula
Target = Max x Intensity
The simpler convention. It ignores the resting rate entirely, so it sits lower than Karvonen whenever resting rate is below roughly a fifth of the maximum.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRmax | Estimated maximum heart rate | beats per minute | The same estimate as above, used without a resting baseline. |
| I | Training intensity | dimensionless | Share of the maximum, written as a decimal. |
| HRtarget | Target heart rate | beats per minute | Consistently lower than the Karvonen figure for a low resting rate. |
What Each Symbol Means
HRmaxbeats per minute
Estimated maximum heart rate
The same estimate as above, used without a resting baseline.
Idimensionless
Training intensity
Share of the maximum, written as a decimal.
HRtargetbeats per minute
Target heart rate
Consistently lower than the Karvonen figure for a low resting rate.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate target heart rate page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Target Heart Rate, filed under Health. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.