Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in payments towards debt agreements due to correction			$ 1,000,000,000
Increase (decrease) in borrowings under debt agreements due to correction			1,000,000,000
Maximum maturity days of highly liquid instruments	90 days
Cash equivalents outstanding	374,300,000	117,400,000
Allowance for doubtful debts	3,237,000	4,788,000
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense	81,405,000	76,230,000	104,609,000
Stock-based compensation expense, tax effect	1,400,000	1,200,000	1,900,000
Recognition of stock-based compensation expense	4,400,000	3,800,000	4,100,000
Stock-based compensation expense classified as inventories	300,000	300,000
Cash received from exercise of share-based payment arrangements	26,003,000	31,644,000	10,744,000
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	31,205,000	9,763,000	5,505,000
Net tax benefit (loss) of actuarial included in accumulated other comprehensive income	6,200,000	2,800,000
Net tax benefit (loss) of prior service cost included in accumulated other comprehensive income	(32,000)	(44,000)
Unrecognized gains (losses) on derivative instruments net of tax benefits	$ 14,800,000	$ 14,200,000
Restricted Stock
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted shares vested and resulted in withholding	1,590,721	681,446	351,968
Options to Purchase Common Shares
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common shares excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	3,748,037		6,207,985
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Organization And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common shares excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	4,930,935		7,997,567