Which equation defines heart rate reserve (HRR)?

Which equation defines heart rate reserve (HRR)?

• A. HRR = Max HR - Resting HR
• B. HRR = Resting HR - Max HR
• C. HRR = (Max HR - Resting HR) / 2
• D. HRR = Max HR + Resting HR

Answer: (A)

Heart rate reserve is the difference between the maximum heart rate and the resting heart rate, representing the amount your heart rate can increase during exercise. Therefore, the correct expression is HRR = Max HR − Resting HR. This measure underpins how much room you have to elevate heart rate for training, and it’s the basis for formulas that set training zones (for example, Target HR = Resting HR + (HRR × intensity)). The other forms don’t reflect the usable increase: reversing the subtraction would give a negative value, halving the difference would yield only half the reserve, and adding the two values would produce a number above maximum.

Heart rate reserve is the difference between the maximum heart rate and the resting heart rate, representing the amount your heart rate can increase during exercise. Therefore, the correct expression is HRR = Max HR − Resting HR. This measure underpins how much room you have to elevate heart rate for training, and it’s the basis for formulas that set training zones (for example, Target HR = Resting HR + (HRR × intensity)). The other forms don’t reflect the usable increase: reversing the subtraction would give a negative value, halving the difference would yield only half the reserve, and adding the two values would produce a number above maximum.