Comments on: Billions and Trillions Confusion

By: Nick Ramsay

Nick Ramsay — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:05:10 +0000

Edit: No, it doesn’t. I’ve misunderstood the Federal Reserve page!

By: Nick Ramsay

Nick Ramsay — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:03:37 +0000

True, but it is still a lot of money. According to the Federal Reserve, there is currently about 1.4 trillion dollars in circulation in the world (including in holdings), and the E.U have prepared a package of about 1.4 trillion dollars! Does that make any sense?

By: Mum

Mum — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:59:18 +0000

Wow Nick! That took some working out. I always used to think a billion was a million million, and couldn’t understand how it has now become a thousand million. It is a totally different amount of money. No wonder there are so many billionaires in the world now.

By: Steve in Nagoya

Steve in Nagoya — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:01:19 +0000

Maybe that can be part of W’s legacy!

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:54:13 +0000

but it would be fun to watch Steve!!!

By: Steve in Nagoya

Steve in Nagoya — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:20:33 +0000

Maybe I’m dumb, but this has always confused me. Why say, “one thousand million” when you can just say one billion (1 followed by 9 zeros)? But then again I was an English major hence my inability to understand anything involving numbers.

And Keith, wouldn’t a trillion buckaroos with their horses, whiskey, and six shooters make a huge mess?

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:37:41 +0000

I found this very interesting Nick. While I was aware of the fact that the short scale was in use, I was never aware of the long scale.
I trillion buckaroos would probably make me retire mmmmmmm have to think about that!!