billions

[estie]

Why is one billion a different number in Britain and the USA? I've been reading loads of science papers, and I have to keep checking where each paper was written so I know what the authors are talking about when they say one billion. This seems cazy - to use the same word for two very different numbers!

[kempie]

It's the difference between Long Scale and Short Scale.

Look here.

[Loosehead]

They are different but when Billion is mentioned it almost always means the US one, ditto trillion etc.

[jimmer]

yeah we now use the us definition

 

jim

[wideboy]

It is stupid though. I hate the US billion. If a million is a thousand thousand (ie multiplying the same number) then surely a billion should be a million million. Always been a sore point (but maybe being pedantic!).

[THECORBYLOON]

The correct term for one thousand million is "milliard."

[estie]

Thanks everyone! Like the metric system, I wish we could all use the same units...