Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Increase (decrease) in payments towards debt agreements due to correction		$ 1,000,000,000	$ 600,000,000
Increase (decrease) in borrowings under debt agreements due to correction		1,000,000,000	600,000,000
Maturity period of highly liquid instruments, days	90
Cash equivalents outstanding	117,400,000	55,000,000
Allowance for doubtful debts	4,788,000	13,939,000
Potential common shares relating to stock-based compensation awards	10,473,033	13,154,272	0
Common shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share		6,207,985	13,862,160
Stock-based compensation expense	76,230,000	104,609,000	44,026,000
Stock-based compensation expense, tax effect	1,200,000	1,900,000	900,000
Stock-based compensation expense classified as inventories	300,000	200,000
Cash received from exercise of share-based payment arrangements	31,644,000	10,744,000	7,420,000
Treasury shares purchased	9,763,000	5,505,000	855,000
Net tax benefit (loss) of actuarial loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income	2,800,000	2,500,000
Net tax benefit (loss) of prior service cost included in accumulated other comprehensive income	(44,000)	(46,000)
Unrecognized gains (loss) on derivative instruments	14,200,000	14,600,000
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) [Member]
Stock-based compensation expense	3,800,000	4,100,000	4,800,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Restricted shares vested and resulted in the withholding	681,446	351,968	109,180
Treasury shares purchased	$ 9,800,000	$ 5,500,000	$ 900,000
Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]
Common shares excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share	0	7,997,567	8,005,799