[Misc] One billion

[Simster]

As long as I can remember, the generally accepted definition of a billion has been 1,000 million. However, I'm fairly sure the original British definition of a billion was a million million. Does anybody ever still use that definition? Did anyone here use it in the past?

It seems a pretty pointlessly high number to me.

 

[knocky1]

Ask Donald Trump.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

A million million is a trillion

 

[Jam The Man]

I was under the impression that it was:
UK 1000 million

US, 1,000,000 million

But I might be wrong!

 

[Notters]

I was under the impression that it was:
UK 1000 million

US, 1,000,000 million

But I might be wrong!

No it's the other way round. The American version is completely illogical.

 

[Wozza]

We changed to match the US, didn't we?

Either way, it's 1000 million.

 

[maffew]

I was under the impression that it was:
UK 1000 million

US, 1,000,000 million

But I might be wrong!

Other way round I believe

 

[Frutos]

I've always thought it to be 1,000 million.

 

[Mellotron]

As long as I can remember, the generally accepted definition of a billion has been 1,000 million. However, I'm fairly sure the original British definition of a billion was a million million. Does anybody ever still use that definition? Did anyone here use it in the past?

It seems a pretty pointlessly high number to me.

You bored mate?

 

[Brovion]

As long as I can remember, the generally accepted definition of a billion has been 1,000 million. However, I'm fairly sure the original British definition of a billion was a million million. Does anybody ever still use that definition? Did anyone here use it in the past?

It seems a pretty pointlessly high number to me.

You are correct, I remember when a 'billion' was a million million. The US used the 1,000 million definition and to make things more understandable we adopted theirs. (And a million million became a trillion - also the US definition). Usual howls of outrage about the decline of British imperial power etc, but at least everybody now sings from the same hymn sheet.


EDIT: Apparently it was in 1974 the Harold Wilson confirmed that we would now be using the American definitions of billion/trillion as it had been getting a bit confusing.

 

[Barham's tash]

You bored mate?

Must be “asking for a friend” or working on the bid to buy Wembley from the FA as have seen prices ranging from £500m-£1bln quoted in the press and Sahid Khan just wants to check which billion it is he’s offering?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Simster]

We changed to match the US, didn't we?

Either way, it's 1000 million.

Well, yes. That was the whole point of my post.

I've always thought it to be 1,000 million.

Me too.

You bored mate?

Yes

You are correct, I remember when a 'billion' was a million million. The US used the 1,000 million definition and to make things more understandable we adopted theirs. (And a million million became a trillion - also the US definition). Usual howls of outrage about the decline of British imperial power etc, but at least everybody now sings from the same hymn sheet.

Can we tackle GALLONS next? Although I think I'd prefer to do away with imperial completely.






[/triggaaar]

 

[beorhthelm]

No it's the other way round. The American version is completely illogical.

not sure if logic comes into words, US version is far more useful, unless maybe counting grains of sand.

 

[Triggaaar]

 

[Thunder Bolt]

You are correct, I remember when a 'billion' was a million million. The US used the 1,000 million definition and to make things more understandable we adopted theirs. (And a million million became a trillion - also the US definition). Usual howls of outrage about the decline of British imperial power etc, but at least everybody now sings from the same hymn sheet.


EDIT: Apparently it was in 1974 the Harold Wilson confirmed that we would now be using the American definitions of billion/trillion as it had been getting a bit confusing.

Yes, I can remember us changing, but not when. So basically, it's us oldies who remember the old definition, but the next generation who can only remember the US version.

 

[Notters]

not sure if logic comes into words, US version is far more useful, unless maybe counting grains of sand.

Of course it does, a new word is introduced when needed, as in 1 million, 10 million, 100 million... 100 thousand million, 1 billion... 100 million billion... 1 trillion etc.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Well, yes. That was the whole point of my post.

Me too.

Yes

Can we tackle GALLONS next? Although I think I'd prefer to do away with imperial completely.






[/triggaaar]

At least we still have chains, and furlongs, and will do as long as we have cricket and horse racing.

 

[banjo]

I prefer a squillion.

 

[seagulls4ever]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_large_numbers

Personally, I've always considered it to be:

Thousand = 10[SUP]3[/SUP]
Million = 10[SUP]6[/SUP]
Billion = 10[SUP]9[/SUP]
Trillion = 10[SUP]12[/SUP]

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I'm reliably informed by Diane Abbott that the answer is 17.