Definition:Number-Naming System/Long Scale/Historical Note

Historical Note on Long Scale System

The long scale system of number representation was standard usage dates from around the $16$th century, when the words billion, trillion, and so on, were introduced by the French.

The words entered the English language in the $17$th century, and were adopted with their long scale interpretations.

Some time later, the French usage changed to the short scale system.

In the $19$th century, the United States adopted the short scale system from the French, while Britain continued with the long scale system.

It was not until $1974$ that the United Kingdom officially accepted the short scale system, although use of the long scale system can still be encountered.

The other nations of the world vary in their usage of long scale or short scale.