Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010
Asset-Backed Securitization Programs [Member]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs [Line Items]
Percentage of trade account receivables sold to conduits by wholly-owned subsidiary	100.00%
Trade accounts receivable sold	$ 2,100.0
Cash proceeds for securitization of trade accounts receivable	1,600.0
Deferred purchase price receivable	497.9
Loss on sale of trade accounts receivable	1.8
Interest expense incurred for asset-backed securitization programs		0.8
North American Asset-Backed Securitization Program [Member]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs [Line Items]
Maximum net cash proceeds available at any one time under asset-backed securitization program and sales program	300.0
Trade accounts receivable sold		1,500.0
Cash proceeds for securitization of trade accounts receivable		1,300.0
Deferred purchase price receivable		218.8
Loss on sale of trade accounts receivable		0.5
Foreign Asset-Backed Securitization Program [Member]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs [Line Items]
Maximum net cash proceeds available at any one time under asset-backed securitization program and sales program	200.0
Debt outstanding under foreign asset-backed securitization program		82.8
Trade Accounts Receivable Factoring Agreements [Member]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable sold	21.4	18.5
Cash proceeds for securitization of trade accounts receivable	21.4	18.5
Trade Accounts Receivable Sale Programs [Member]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable sold	500.0	400.0
Cash proceeds for securitization of trade accounts receivable	500.0	400.0
Minimum number of days notice required to cancel receivable sale agreements	30
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] | 200.0 Million Dollar Trade Accounts Receivable Sale Program [Member]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs [Line Items]
Maximum net cash proceeds available at any one time under asset-backed securitization program and sales program	200.0
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] | 250.0 Million Dollar Trade Accounts Receivable Sale Program [Member]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs [Line Items]
Maximum net cash proceeds available at any one time under asset-backed securitization program and sales program	250.0
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member] | 50.0 Million Dollar Trade Accounts Receivable Sale Program [Member]
Trade Accounts Receivable Securitization And Sale Programs [Line Items]
Maximum net cash proceeds available at any one time under asset-backed securitization program and sales program	$ 50.0