To find the decibel reading for a sound with intensity \( I = 23,000 \times I_0 \), we can use the formula:
\[ L = 10 \log\left(\frac{I}{I_0}\right) \]
Since \( I = 23,000 \times I_0 \), we can substitute this into the formula:
\[ L = 10 \log\left(\frac{23,000 \times I_0}{I_0}\right) \]
This simplifies to:
\[ L = 10 \log(23,000) \]
Next, we can calculate \( \log(23,000) \).
Using a calculator:
\[ \log(23,000) \approx 4.362 \]
Now plug this value back into the formula:
\[ L \approx 10 \times 4.362 = 43.62 \]
Rounding to the nearest whole number, we get:
\[ L \approx 44 \]
Thus, the decibel reading is approximately 44.