Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maximum maturity days of highly liquid instruments	90 days
Cash equivalents outstanding	$ 6,500,000	$ 374,300,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts	2,700,000	3,200,000
Recognition of stock based compensation expense	68,383,000	81,405,000	76,230,000
Stock based compensation expense, tax effect	(100,000)	1,400,000	1,200,000
Recognition of stock based compensation expense	4,400,000	4,400,000	3,800,000
Stock-based compensation expense classified as inventories	300,000	300,000
Cash received from exercise of share-based payment arrangements	18,285,000	26,003,000	31,644,000
Treasury stock minimum tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock	20,290,000	31,205,000	9,763,000
Net tax benefit (loss) of actuarial included in accumulated other comprehensive income	6,900,000	6,200,000
Net tax benefit (loss) of prior service cost included in accumulated other comprehensive income	(300,000)	(32,000)
Unrecognized gains (losses) on derivative instruments net of tax benefits	$ 14,100,000	$ 14,800,000
Restricted Stock
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted shares vested and resulted in withholding	1,184,162	1,590,721	681,446
Stock Option
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common shares excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	3,664,364	3,748,037	0
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Description Of Business And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common shares excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	4,485,266	4,930,935	0