[sdiy] Metric OT rant -how about that billion thing?

[Magnus Danielson]

From: James Husted <james at ersatzplanet.com>
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Metric OT rant -how about that billion thing?
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 20:12:15 -0700

James,

> Do the British (and some other Europeans) still consider a Billion to be
> different than we do here in America? I recall at one time they called what
> we call a Billion, a thousand-million (1,000,000,000).

Actually in all countries EXCEPT the USA 1.000.000.000 is called a miljard
where it is called a billion in the USA. Then, 1.000.000.000.000 is a billion
elsewhere, and then 1.000 billions is a biljard. The naming then goes on like
that. I bet there is a bunch of good websites around having those around.

Guess why the SI system distanced itself and defined unit prefixes instead.

>  Does this get worse as you get higher? Like millions of billions instead of
> a trillion? I bet this plays hell with large overseas bank transfers.

You are right... it is a bitch!

> I used to use this as a trick question to win bar bets. Like which weighs
> more, an ounce of gold or an ounce of lead? (gold does - precious metals are
> measured in troy weight which is 480grains to the oz. not 437.5grains in
> avoirdupois).

OUPS! ;O)

Cheers,
Magnus