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General Science / what is a billion? trillion?
« on: 13/04/2007 17:15:21 »
OK, my turn for a question. I learned a long time ago that the word billion has different meanings on the two sides of the pond. In the US, a billion is a thousand million, while in the UK (and other countries?) a billion is a million million.
Given this, what about other "-illion" words, like trillion, quadrillion, etc.?
Here are the US meanings (and I know, the commas are an Americanism, too):
million = 1,000,000 = 10^6
billion = 1,000,000,000 = 10^9
trillion = 1,000,000,000,000 = 10^12
quadrillion = 1,000,000,000,000,000 = 10^15
So, what are the UK meanings?
Dick
Given this, what about other "-illion" words, like trillion, quadrillion, etc.?
Here are the US meanings (and I know, the commas are an Americanism, too):
million = 1,000,000 = 10^6
billion = 1,000,000,000 = 10^9
trillion = 1,000,000,000,000 = 10^12
quadrillion = 1,000,000,000,000,000 = 10^15
So, what are the UK meanings?
Dick