Be careful when you describe big numbers. The same spelling, the same pronunciation doesn’t mean the same number. Find some elementary informations.

1. Marek Chalas
Billion vs. Milliard
How many zeroes?

2. Marek Chalas
Billion vs. Milliard
In different countries people call same numbers with different
names.
It causes a lot of confusion.
Especially when it comes to translations.

3. Marek Chalas
Billion vs. Milliard
We all know how to call these numbers.

4. Marek Chalas
Billion vs. Milliard
We all know how to call these numbers.
. . . how to call bigger numbers?

5. There are two main systems of naming large numbers: Short
scale (fr. échelle courte) and Long scale (fr. échelle longue).
These systems use the same names for different numbers.
Long scale is used:
• In North America: Canadian French,
• In Europe: Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norwegian, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City.
Marek Chalas
Billion vs. Milliard
Short scale is used in most English-language countries and
regions:
• In North America: USA, American English, Canadian English;
• In Europe: United Kingdom, British English (Ireland, Gibraltar,
Malta), Bulgaria, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Turkey,
Ukraine.
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

6. Marek Chalas
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below number is called:
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number is called:
106 =
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

7. Marek Chalas
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below number is called:
109 =
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number is called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

8. Marek Chalas
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below number is called:
1012 =
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number is called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

9. Marek Chalas
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below number is called:
1015 =
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number is called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

10. Marek Chalas
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below number is called:
1018 =
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number is called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

11. Marek Chalas
109
1012
1015
1018
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below numbers are is called:
Short scale is used:
Most English-language countries and regions use the short scale.
• In North America: USA, American English, Canadian English;
• In Europe: United Kingdom, British English (Ireland, Gibraltar, Malta),
Bulgaria, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine.
For full and more precise list go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

12. In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below numbers are called:
Marek Chalas
109
1012
1015
1018
Long scale is used:
• In North America: Canadian French,
• In Europe: Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary,
Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norwegian, Poland, Portugal, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City.
For full and more precise list go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

13. Marek Chalas
109
1012
1015
1018
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below numbers are called:
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number s are called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

14. Marek Chalas
109
1012
1015
1018
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below numbers are called:
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number s are called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

15. Marek Chalas
109
1012
1015
1018
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below numbers are called:
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number s are called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

16. Marek Chalas
109
1012
1015
1018
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below numbers are called:
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number s are called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

17. Marek Chalas
109
1012
1015
1018
In the countries using „Short Scale”,
below numbers are called:
In the countries using „Long Scale”,
below number s are called:
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

18. Marek Chalas
Billion vs. Milliard
Short and long scale usage throughout the world
Pink: Short scale
Blue: Long scale
Purple: Both scales
Yellow: Other naming system
Light gray: No data

19. Marek Chalas
Billion vs. Milliard
Long scale is used:
• In North America: Canadian French,
• In Europe: Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norwegian,
Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City.
Short scale is used in most English-language
countries and regions:
• In North America: USA, American English,
Canadian English;
• In Europe: United Kingdom, British English
(Ireland, Gibraltar, Malta), Bulgaria, Greece,
Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine.
Full and more precise list of countries using each scale go to Wikipedia or mathematical pages.

20. Billion vs. Milliard
How many zeroes?
Presentation and explanation made for you by Marek Chalas