Tool 02 — Bar math
PLATELOADER.
Target weight in, per-side plate stack out. The bar is counted once; everything after that is halved.
The calculator
RUN IT.
Units
Bar
Loads the largest plates first, per side. Plate availability varies on a shared floor; check the rack before you commit to the stack.
Loaded barbell
225lb
Per side: 45 · 45
Target loaded exactly.
- 45 × 2
The method
THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS.
Load the largest plate that fits, then repeat on the other side. The tool uses standard pound and kilogram plates and shows the remainder when a target cannot be hit exactly.
How to Load a Barbell: Plate Math Without the Guesswork01Bar45 / 35 lb, or 20 / 15 kg.
02Per sideSubtract the bar, divide the rest by two.
03Plates45, 35, 25, 10, 5, 2.5 lb · 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25 kg.
THE OTHER TWO.
All toolsUse it in the room
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A drop-in is $25 and covers full gym access for the day. Test the numbers with the Arsenal equipment in front of you.