Halliday, Resnick & Walker — Measurement: Problem 52

Billion and trillion. Until 1974, the U.S. and the U.K. used the same names to mean different large numbers. Here are two examples: In American English a billion means a number with 9 zeros after the 1 and in British English it formerly meant a number with 12 zeros after the 1. In American English a trillion means a number with 12 zeros after the 1 and in British English it formerly meant a number with 18 zeros after the 1. In scientific notation with the prefixes in Table 1.1.2, what is 4.0 billion meters in (a) the American use and (b) the former British use? What is 5.0 trillion meters in (c) the American use and (d) the former British use?