Income Taxes (Additional Information) (Details 5) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax benefit on income from subsidiaries	$ 38,600	$ 50,500	$ 74,700
Per basic share income tax benefit on income from subsidiaries	$ 0.22	$ 0.27	$ 0.39
Net change in the total valuation allowance	$ (59,300)	$ 40,000
Deferred tax liability	86,202	88,445
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	$ 3,400,000
Unrecognized deferred tax liability on these undistributed earnings description	Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability on these undistributed earnings is not practicable.
Possible adjustments for transfer pricing and certain inclusions in taxable income	$ 66,300
Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits included in income tax provision	27,100	21,900
Recognized (derecognized) tax benefit, accrued interest and penalties	5,200	$ 1,800	$ 2,100
Fiscal Years 2012 through 2014 [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Potential additional income tax payment due	5,300
Fiscal Years 2009 through 2011 [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Potential additional income tax payment due	28,600
U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards	442,500
Tax credit carry forwards	53,900
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carry forwards	58,700
Tax credit carry forwards	5,000
Non U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax benefit on reversal of valuation allowances	27,500
Net operating loss carry forwards	315,000
Investment tax credit [Member] | Non U.S.
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Tax credit carry forwards	$ 21,400