Question: The magnitudes (visual brightnesses), m 1 and m 2 , of two stars are related to their (actual) brightnesses, b 1 and b 2 ,

The magnitudes (visual brightnesses), m1 and m2 , of two stars are related to their (actual) brightnesses, b1 and b2, by the equation m1 − m2 = 2.5 log(b2/b1). As a result of this definition, magnitudes may be negative, and magnitudes decrease as brightnesses increase. The magnitude of the brightest star, Sirius, is −1.4, and the magnitudes of the faintest stars observable with the naked eye are about 6.0. How much brighter is Sirius than these faintest stars?

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