How much fainter is a twelfth magnitude star than an eighth magnitude star?
A)4 times
B)10 times
C)40 times
D)2.5 times

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The magnitude scale is based on a logarithmic scale where each magnitude difference represents a factor of approximately 2.512. Therefore, the difference between 8 and 12 magnitudes is 2.512 x 2.512 x 2.512 x 2.512 = 39.81, which is approximately 40 times fainter.

How Much Fainter Is a Twelfth Magnitude Star Than an Eighth