CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 716.2	$ 811.4
Short-term investments	0.0	95.3
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $45.9 at September 29, 2017 and $24.2 at September 30, 2016	823.5	769.6
Inventories	439.7	442.4
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	199.8	141.1
Current assets of discontinued operations	11.1	355.6
Total current assets	2,190.3	2,615.4
Property, plant and equipment, net	255.3	258.6
Goodwill	222.6	220.0
Intangible assets	71.6	84.1
Deferred tax assets	138.8	136.8
Other assets	300.8	227.0
Non-current assets of discontinued operations	0.0	272.9
Total assets	3,179.4	3,814.8
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	162.3	159.2
Accrued liabilities	394.7	383.6
Deferred revenues	640.6	608.6
Short-term borrowings	350.0	329.6
Current maturities of long-term debt	0.0	49.4
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	2.5	83.0
Total current liabilities	1,550.1	1,613.4
Long-term debt	0.0	286.9
Other long-term liabilities	130.0	155.8
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations	0.0	4.2
Total liabilities	1,680.1	2,060.3
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	0.0	10.3
Equity:
Preferred stock of $1 par value: 1.0 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding	0.0	0.0
Common stock of $1 par value: 189.0 shares authorized; 91.7 and 93.7 shares issued and outstanding at September 29, 2017 and at September 30, 2016, respectively	91.7	93.7
Capital in excess of par value	716.1	678.6
Retained earnings	756.0	1,069.0
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(68.8)	(100.8)
Total Varian stockholders' equity	1,495.0	1,740.5
Noncontrolling interests	4.3	3.7
Total equity	1,499.3	1,744.2
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$ 3,179.4	$ 3,814.8

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.