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Above the "million," one system introduces a new name for each new group of ''three'' zeroes. In particular, a "billion" means a thousand millions. This system is used in the United States and has been for a long time.
Above the "million," one system introduces a new name for each new group of ''three'' zeroes. In particular, a "billion" means a thousand millions. This system is used in the United States and has been for a long time.
Another system introduces a new name for each group of ''six'' zeroes. Thus, a billion means a million millions. This used to be British usage, ''but no longer is;'' newspapers and official government reports now use the same system as the U. S., and this system is the one now taught in British schools. Some older Britons remain attached to the older usage.
Another system introduces a new name for each group of ''six'' zeroes. Thus, a billion means a million millions. This used to be British usage, ''but no longer is;'' newspapers and official government reports now use the same system as the U. S., and this system is the one now taught in British schools. Some older Britons remain attached to the older usage.
This system in which the word ''billion'' means 1,000,000,000,000, though not used England, is used in many European countries.
The word ''milliard,'' is unambiguous: it always means 1,000,000,000. It is rarely used in countries where a ''billion'' means the same thing. (Though rarely used, it is found in both British and American dictionaries and is thus a legitimate English word).
As a practical matter, it is important to be aware of the difference in meaning when reading old material, and to avoid using either set of names—especially the common but ambiguous ''billion''—in any context where misunderstanding can occur.
As a practical matter, it is important to be aware of the difference in meaning when reading old material, and to avoid using either set of names—especially the common but ambiguous ''billion''—in any context where misunderstanding can occur.
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{|border=1
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| "Short scale" || "Long scale" || Math
| U. S. usage || Former British usage || Math
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| thousand || thousand || 10<sup>3</sup> = 1,000
| thousand || thousand || 10<sup>3</sup> = 1,000