Billion - Please Explain

[Mothman]

Can anyone explain why billion has two meanings?
Wikipedia reflects a short and long scale, why the two scales?



Billion may refer to:
In numbers:

• Long and short scales
  • 1,000,000,000, one thousand million, 10⁹, in the short scale
  • 1,000,000,000,000, one million million, 10¹², in the long scale

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Can anyone explain why billion has two meanings?
Wikipedia reflects a short and long scale, why the two scales?



Billion may refer to:
In numbers:

• Long and short scales
  • 1,000,000,000, one thousand million, 10⁹, in the short scale
  • 1,000,000,000,000, one million million, 10¹², in the long scale

It is just a matter of choice - no real reason behind it!

Somewhat similar issue comes up regarding US gallon and Imperial gallon. People are always conspiring to confuse the "foreigners"!!!

 

[HallsofIvy]

Because "English English" and "American English" are two different languages!

 

[lookagain]

Because "English English" and "American English" are two different languages!

In the UK, if someone turns on a torch and holds it up to your face, then it illuminates your face,
because the torch might be a flashlight in that case.

But in the United States, if someone turns on a torch and holds it up to your face, then you won't
have a face anymore, because the torch would be a blowtorch.