What's a billion??

Question

Is a billion a hundred million?? Just wondering if we win the Euro millions will we be billionares!!

Can anyone then explain why the US had to be different in the first place and change it??

Answer 1

A billion is 1000 million.
1 million = 1,000,000
1 billion = 1,000,000,000 this is 1,000 times a million
1 trillion = 1,000,000,000,000,this is 1,000 times a billion

extra 000 on each one, and 000 means "thousand" as in 1,000.

The girl underneath me is sinking under the weight of her delusions. She does not know what a billion is.

Answer 2

million is a million everywhere - that is a thousand thousand

is US a billion is a thousand million
originally a billion was a million million

but - per usual - the rest of the world gave away their independence and most places fell into line with the US version

To Further Elaborate per your request -


Billion: (�), n. According to the French and American method of numeration, a thousand millions, or 1,000,000,000; according to the English method, a million millions, or 1,000,000,000,000. See Numeration.


By Webster Dictionary



The word "'billion", and its equivalents in other languages, refer to one of two different numbers.

10^12 The original meaning, established in the 15th century, was "a million of a million" (1,000,000^2, hence the name billion), or 10^12 = 1 000 000 000 000. This system, known in French as the échelle longue ("long scale") is currently used in most countries where English is not the primary language.
10^9 In the late 17th century a change was made in the way of writing large numbers. Previously, numbers were written separated into groups of six digits; subsequently, the modern grouping of three digits came into use. As a result, a minority of Italian and French scientists began using the word "billion" to mean 10^9 (one thousand million, or 1 000 000 000), and correspondingly redefined trillion etc. to mean powers of one thousand rather than one million. This is known in French as the échelle courte ("short scale"), and is now officially used by all English-speaking countries, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Russia, Turkey and Greece. Articles in the English Wikipedia that don't state otherwise use this convention as well.

Use of "thousand million" for 10^9 and "million million" for 10^12 avoids ambiguity. The old word "milliard", also found in many other languages, can be used for 10^9, but this usage is unfamiliar to many native English speakers. See long scale for a more detailed discussion and usage advice.


I actually had to resort to paper references - you know those book things - to get further information.
My 1965 Reader's digest differentiated as UK v US.
My 1943 Funk & Wagnells talks of UK v US + France

Hope this clarifies.

Answer 3

In England a Billion used to be a million million.
We now seem to have changed to the American size which is a thousand million
RoyS

Answer 4

The noun billion has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: (in Britain) the number that is represented as a one followed by 12 zeros
Synonyms: one million million, 1000000000000


Meaning #2: (in the United States) the number that is represented as a one followed by 9 zeros
Synonyms: one thousand million, 1000000000

Answer 5

A billion is 1000 million (1x10 to the power of 9)

Answer 6

One billion equals 1,000,000,000 or one thousand million.

There are two systems for naming large numbers. For example, in the American system a billion is 10^9 , whereas in a system formerly used in Britain, a billion is 10^12 and a milliard is 10 9 .

Answer 7

A billion is a thousand million.
A million is a thousand thousands.

1,000 = 1 thousand
1,000,000 = 1 million
1,000,000,000 = 1 billion

Answer 8

A billion is a thousand million

Answer 9

a billion is a thousand millions.

1 Million = 1,000,000
1 Billion = 1,000,000,000...

Answer 10

a billion is a lot,but dont worry tryin to find out coz you wont win euro millions you 24 carrot plonker