That's only a hundred billion. At least that was what I was taught in school: Europe--10^6 a million, 10^9 a milliard, 10^12 a billion, 10^18 a trillion (I used to conjecture 10^15 should be a billiard); and the Americans chose to call 10^9 a billion and so on. Is the American system now absolutely universal? And, if so, why? And since when?
Woodsy - big problem - how do they transport the cash to a wheelbarrow shop?
Christopher - yes, I remember when a billion was million million but I don't remember when it became a thousand million. I expect it was an international standards decision.
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Shrotage of wheelbarrows to carry their spare change around in?
ReplyDeleteThat's only a hundred billion. At least that was what I was taught in school: Europe--10^6 a million, 10^9 a milliard, 10^12 a billion, 10^18 a trillion (I used to conjecture 10^15 should be a billiard); and the Americans chose to call 10^9 a billion and so on. Is the American system now absolutely universal? And, if so, why? And since when?
ReplyDeleteWoodsy - big problem - how do they transport the cash to a wheelbarrow shop?
ReplyDeleteChristopher - yes, I remember when a billion was million million but I don't remember when it became a thousand million. I expect it was an international standards decision.