Reconciliation of 35% Federal Statutory Tax Rate to Total Tax Provision (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2010
Reconciliation of Statutory Federal Tax Rate [Line Items]
Federal statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State and local income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	1.70%	1.80%	(1.50%)
Change in state and local valuation allowances	(0.10%)	1.00%	5.00%
Change in income tax accruals for resolution of tax audits		0.20%	1.90%
Non-U.S. income taxes at other than 35%	(2.20%)	(2.20%)	(1.60%)
Qualified production activities deduction	(2.80%)	(1.90%)	(2.10%)
Other	(0.60%)	(0.20%)	0.40%
Effective tax rate attributable to controlling interest	31.00%	33.70%	37.10%