Subject:
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Re: Fw: Space Shuttle Costs
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Tue, 15 Dec 1998 20:59:57 GMT
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Original-From:
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Peter Hesketh <pbh@phesk^AntiSpam^.demon.co.uk>
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Viewed:
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1053 times
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In article <0a8801be2862$0ef0a2f0$f322bece@trowton.audionet.com>, Tom
Rowton <trowton@broadcast.com> writes
> Would someone please enlighten those of us who clearly do not understand the
> number system that the rest of the world uses, what the difference is
> between 5,000,000,000 and 5 Billion? Or is the US the only country that
> recognises "billion" as a valid number? How about trillion?
>
> I am seriously interested - this is not a thinly veiled jab. I would really
> like to know, so hold the flamethrowers and let the information flow.
Traditionally in England a billion is 1,000,000,000,000, and what an
American calls a billion is known as a thousand million. However,
because of the internationalisation of trade, both meanings are
encountered in England today, despite valiant efforts to retain the
tradition.
ISTR that the Daily Telegraph (one of the largest circulation UK
broadsheets owned, I think, by a Canadian) decided to switch from the
English to the American usage a few years ago. I can't remember if they
stuck to it.
--
Regards - Peter Hesketh, Mynyddbach, Mon.
Forty reasons why a dog is better than a woman: number 13
"Anyone can get a good-looking dog."
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Fw: Space Shuttle Costs
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| Would someone please enlighten those of us who clearly do not understand the number system that the rest of the world uses, what the difference is between 5,000,000,000 and 5 Billion? Or is the US the only country that recognises "billion" as a (...) (26 years ago, 15-Dec-98, to lugnet.robotics)
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