def _get_magnitude_scaling_term(self, C, mag):
        """
        Returns the magnitude scaling term defined in equation 3
        """
        if mag < 6.75:
            return C["a1_lo"] + C["a2_lo"] * mag + C["a3"] *\
                ((8.5 - mag) ** 2.0)
        else:
            return C["a1_hi"] + C["a2_hi"] * mag + C["a3"] *\
                ((8.5 - mag) ** 2.0)
Returns the magnitude scaling term defined in equation 3