• Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

Problem with my billions

Collapse
X
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    #11
    The old british billion is now called a trillion.

    So, the total personal debt in this country is now expressed as:

    £1,500,000,000,000 =
    £1,500,000 million =
    £1,500 billion =
    £1.5 trillion

    The old british definition was more logical, but in practice we'd need something else to express 10^9.

    Comment


      #12
      The Russians have:

      million 1,000,000
      milliard 1,000,000,000
      billion 1,000,000,000,000

      HTH
      Cats are evil.

      Comment


        #13
        Does anyone else get annoyed when Gordon Brown says "we are spending four billions on the NHS..." ?

        Is it grammatically correct to use the plural 'billions' here? You wouldn't say "I have six hundreds of pounds".
        Cats are evil.

        Comment


          #14
          Originally posted by swamp View Post
          Does anyone else get annoyed when Gordon Brown says "we are spending four billions on the NHS..." ?

          Is it grammatically correct to use the plural 'billions' here? You wouldn't say "I have six hundreds of pounds".
          He pronounces it "bullions" probably an unconsious admission of guilt at his selling of the UK's gold reserves.
          What a complete twunt of a donkey.
          Hard Brexit now!
          #prayfornodeal

          Comment


            #15
            Originally posted by d000hg View Post
            I'm sure some patriotic diehards somewhere do though, if only to be awkward.
            Yes - I knew someone just like that

            He used to convert back to pounds shillings and pence too so he could moan about prices in "old money".

            What a knob head !

            Comment


              #16
              Originally posted by Platypus View Post
              Yes - I knew someone just like that

              He used to convert back to pounds shillings and pence too so he could moan about prices in "old money".

              What a knob head !
              Do I know you

              You've come right out the other side of the forest of irony and ended up in the desert of wrong.

              Comment


                #17
                Originally posted by Platypus View Post
                Yes - I knew someone just like that

                He used to convert back to pounds shillings and pence too so he could moan about prices in "old money".

                What a knob head !
                You still come across people that prefer pounds and ounces and the other awful imperial units using different and awkward number bases, for some unfathomable reason other than it is what they are used to. They must be really good at mental arithmetic.

                Comment


                  #18
                  Originally posted by TimberWolf View Post
                  You still come across people that prefer pounds and ounces and the other awful imperial units using different and awkward number bases, for some unfathomable reason other than it is what they are used to. They must be really good at mental arithmetic.
                  Or they know that by using pounds and ounces it's easier to rip off people used to dealing with metric amounts and proper decimal numbers
                  Coffee's for closers

                  Comment


                    #19
                    Originally posted by bogeyman View Post
                    Do I know you
                    Simon? is that you?

                    Comment


                      #20
                      Originally posted by Platypus View Post
                      Simon? is that you?
                      Indeed it is.

                      Furthermore, I believe you still owe me three shillings and fourpence-ha'penny for the Wimpy all-day breakfast I bought you in 1970.

                      You've come right out the other side of the forest of irony and ended up in the desert of wrong.

                      Comment

                      Working...
                      X