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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments.

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The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a controlling interest in another entity or an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled (for example, an unconsolidated subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture or equity method investment).

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Merger of Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 € / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 € / shares	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares	Oct. 31, 2018 € / shares
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Common stock par value (USD per share) \| € / shares			€ 0.01		€ 0.01		€ 0.001
Goodwill	$ 26,820			$ 26,874
Pre-tax costs related to the close of the merger	571	$ 605
After tax costs related to the close of the merger	553	471
Payment for acquisition	152	0
Acquisition-related Costs
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Pre-tax costs related to the close of the merger		$ 60
Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Pre-tax costs related to the close of the merger	10
After tax costs related to the close of the merger	8
Pension Settlement Charge
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Pre-tax costs related to the close of the merger	51
After tax costs related to the close of the merger	40
Linde AG
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Share conversion ratio						1.54
Percent of Linde AG shares tendered						92.00%
Goodwill						$ 24,092
Linde AG \| LInde AG Korean Businesses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement period adjustments, increase (decrease) to asset held for sale	330
Measurement period adjustments, increase (decrease) to asset goodwill	(330)
Linde AG \| Linde AG Americas Businesses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Measurement period adjustments, increase (decrease) to asset held for sale	280
Measurement period adjustments, increase (decrease) to asset goodwill	280
Praxair
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Common stock par value (USD per share) \| $ / shares						$ 0.01
Closing stock price (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares						$ 164.50
Americas
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	$ 152