One way to measure a person’s cardiofitness is to calculate how many METs, or metabolic un...

One way to measure a person’s cardiofitness is to calculate how many METs, or metabolic units, he or she can reach at peak exertion. One MET is the amount of energy used when sitting quietly. To calculate ideal METs, we can use the following expressions.

(Source: New England Journal of Medicine.)

A 40-yr-old woman wishes to calculate her ideal MET.

(a) Write the expression, using her age.

(b) Calculate her ideal MET. (Hint: Use the rules for order of operations.)

(c) Researchers recommend that a person reach approximately 85% of his or her MET when exercising. Calculate 85% of the ideal MET from part (b). Then refer to the following table. What activity listed in the table can the woman do that is approximately this value?

Activity	METs	Activity	METs
Golf (with cart)	2.5	Skiing (water or downhill)	6.8
Walking (3 mph)	3.3	Swimming	7.0
Mowing lawn (power mower)	4.5	Walking (5 mph)	8.0
Ballroom or square dancing	5.5	Jogging	10.2
Cycling	5.7	Skipping rope	12.0

Source: Harvard School of Public Health.

(d) Repeat parts (a)–(c) for a 55-yr-old man.