The nomenclature of big numbers varies depending on who writes them.
In the USA, a billion is 109 (a 1 followed by 9 zeroes) and a trillion is 1012. This seems straight-forward until you realize that Americans spell differently than the British and other Commonwealth countries. Some further thought might be in order.
In the UK and Germany, a billion is 1012 and a trillion is 1018. Now this makes more sense to me.
Bi means twice or 1 million squared for a billion, or 1012, as 1 million is 106. Tri is three times, or 1018, or 1 million cubed. The same follows for quadrillion being 1 million to the 4th power, or 1024, rather than the American 1015.
This confusion means having to get clarification on all large numbers unless all the zeroes are present, or they come from a recent article written by a bona fide Economist or Statistician who will use the American interpretation of these large numbers.
Now I’m sure you’ll never be confused by this again!
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