Summary of major accounting policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of property, plant and equipment

The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years):

	Estimated useful life	2018		2017
Land and land improvements	20	$	3,593	$	3,470
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	7,874		7,431
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	9,750		9,209
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 8	2,464		2,105
Capital lease properties		743		745
		24,424		22,960
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		10,513		9,318
Balance at end of year		$	13,911	$	13,642