CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Aug. 31, 2011	$ 1,883,823	$ 225	$ 1,649,431	$ 441,793	$ 194,706	$ (419,035)	$ 16,703
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2011		203,416,503
Shares issued upon exercise of stock options	13,247	1	13,246
Shares issued upon exercise of stock options (in shares)		959,796
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	12,754	1	12,753
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)		754,598
Vesting of restricted stock awards		5	(5)
Vesting of restricted stock awards (in shares)		5,700,819
Purchases of treasury stock under employee stock plans	(31,205)					(31,205)
Purchases of treasury stock under employee stock plans (in shares)		(1,590,721)
Treasury shares purchased	(70,991)					(70,991)
Treasury shares purchased (in shares)		(3,212,418)
Recognition of stock-based compensation	81,255		81,255
Excess tax benefit of stock awards	825		825
Declared dividends	(69,213)			(69,213)
Comprehensive income	307,935			394,687	(88,154)		1,402
Declared dividends to noncontrolling interests	(333)			(333)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(20,501)		(4,658)		(277)		(15,566)
Capital contribution of noncontrolling interests	300						300
Foreign currency adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests	(561)						(561)
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2012	2,107,335	232	1,752,847	766,934	106,275	(521,231)	2,278
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2012		206,028,577
Shares issued upon exercise of stock options	3,366	5	3,361
Shares issued upon exercise of stock options (in shares)		256,419
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	14,919	1	14,918
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)		902,691
Vesting of restricted stock awards (in shares)		4,504,249
Purchases of treasury stock under employee stock plans	(20,290)					(20,290)
Purchases of treasury stock under employee stock plans (in shares)		(1,184,162)
Treasury shares purchased	(129,262)					(129,262)
Treasury shares purchased (in shares)		(7,342,904)
Recognition of stock-based compensation	67,824		67,824
Excess tax benefit of stock awards	14,459		14,459
Declared dividends	(67,241)			(67,241)
Comprehensive income	345,064			371,482	(25,027)		(1,391)
Acquisition/Adjustment of noncontrolling interests	36,548						36,548
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(17,500)						(17,500)
Capital contribution of noncontrolling interests	316						316
Foreign currency adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests	29						29
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2013	2,355,567	238	1,853,409	1,071,175	81,248	(670,783)	20,280
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2013	203,164,870	203,164,870
Shares issued upon exercise of stock options (in shares)		1,251
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	15,773	6	15,767
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	9,350,992	1,077,071
Vesting of restricted stock awards (in shares)		5,120,099
Purchases of treasury stock under employee stock plans	(34,312)					(34,312)
Purchases of treasury stock under employee stock plans (in shares)		(1,569,059)
Treasury shares purchased	(260,274)					(260,274)
Treasury shares purchased (in shares)		(13,680,382)
Recognition of stock-based compensation	8,186		8,186
Excess tax benefit of stock awards	(2,396)		(2,396)
Declared dividends	(66,716)			(66,716)
Comprehensive income	247,979			241,313	5,714		952
Acquisition/Adjustment of noncontrolling interests	5,174						5,174
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(1,720)		(747)				(973)
Sale of noncontrolling interest	(6,898)						(6,898)
Foreign currency adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests	5						5
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2014	$ 2,260,368	$ 244	$ 1,874,219	$ 1,245,772	$ 86,962	$ (965,369)	$ 18,540
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2014	194,113,850	194,113,850