How Old Is The Earth?

[Lancashire Lad]

This question doesn't sit very well in any of the wildlife forums, so I though the best place might be here.

Current thinking has it that the Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.

Now - My question is this - Is that British billions? or American billions? (A British billion is the same as an American trillion).

If British billions, the earth would be approx. 4,500,000,000,000 years old.
If American billions, the earth would be approx. 4,500,000,000 years old.

Quite a significant difference to say the least.

I haven't been able to find anything that says whether the statement is based on British or American version of billion - Anyone out there got the answer?

Regards
Mike.

[Mick_S]

I don't know for a fact but I would assume American billions because I don't think I know of an occasion when anybody uses British billions, even Brits.

Mick

[Lancashire Lad]

Would you believe it - After searching for weeks without success, and having posted my question only half an hour ago, I've just found a website which explains the logic, and comes up with an answer of 4.55 x 10power9. So the statement is obviously based upon the American billion.

Regards
Mike.

[tcvarlh]

American and European Our Billion is called a Milliard in Europe. I don't think there is a British Billionaire just British American versions. Richer than Croesus indeed!

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Would you believe it - After searching for weeks without success, and having posted my question only half an hour ago, I've just found a website which explains the logic, and comes up with an answer of 4.55 x 10power9. So the statement is obviously based upon the American billion.

Regards
Mike.

Hmm. I guessed as much!

[Highlander71]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

This question doesn't sit very well in any of the wildlife forums, so I though the best place might be here.

Current thinking has it that the Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.

Now - My question is this - Is that British billions? or American billions? (A British billion is the same as an American trillion).

If British billions, the earth would be approx. 4,500,000,000,000 years old.
If American billions, the earth would be approx. 4,500,000,000 years old.

Quite a significant difference to say the least.

I haven't been able to find anything that says whether the statement is based on British or American version of billion - Anyone out there got the answer?

Regards
Mike.

Hi, that was an interesting question! I have a degree in geology and it's always been stated 4.5 Billion yrs as being 4,500 Million yrs (to be politically correct 4,500Ma (Mega anom).
I assume an American Million is the same as a British one or is someone going to throw a spanner in that one as well!

Andy

[tcvarlh]

Ok This is what I found and if I remember correctly as I was taught
Million, Billion, Trillion...

© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy

People sometimes ask me the names of the large numbers. Here is a table. The system used in the U.S. is not as logical as that used in other countries (like Great Britain, France, and Germany). In these other countries, a billion (bi meaning two) has twice as many zeros as a million, and a trillion (tri meaning three) has three times as many zeros as a million, etc. But the scientific community seems to use the American system.

Number of zeros-U.S. & scientific community-Other countries
3-thousand-thousand
6-million-million
9-billion-1000 million (1 milliard)
12-trillion-billion
15-quadrillion-1000 billion
18-quintillion-trillion
21-sextillion-1000 trillion
24-septillion-quadrillion
27-octillion-1000 quadrillion
30-nonillion-quintillion
33-decillion-1000 quintillion
36-undecillion-sextillion
39-duodecillion-1000 sextillion
42-tredecillion-septillion
45-quattuordecillion-1000 septillion
48-quindecillion-octillion
51-sexdecillion-1000 octillion
54-septendecillion-nonillion
57-octodecillion-1000 nonillion
60-novemdecillion-decillion
63-vigintillion-1000 decillion
66 - 120--undecillion - vigintillion
303-centillion
600--centillion

So everything clear as mud now?

H

[foxy mars]

The Earth started life after the big bang about 15 Billion years ago.

[Amoeba]

Originally Posted by foxy mars

The Earth started life after the big bang about 15 Billion years ago.

According to the theory, Earth didn't even form until long after the big bang. -_-

[meinchewster]

Originally Posted by foxy mars

The Earth started life after the big bang about 15 Billion years ago.

By life do you mean biotic? I.e living organisms? or when earth the planet formed?