Income Taxes (Provision For Income Taxes By Geographic Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011		Aug. 31, 2010		Aug. 31, 2009		Aug. 31, 2010 U.S. Federal R&D Credit [Member]	Aug. 31, 2008 U.S. Federal R&D Credit [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 Non-U.S. [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Total provision for income taxes, U.S. operations	$ 58,125		$ 62,554		$ 63,650
Total provision for income taxes, Non-U.S. operations	9,787		9,416		3,522
Total provision for income taxes	67,912	[1]	71,970	[2]	67,172	[3]
Income tax benefits	53,925		63,712		60,547		6,000	4,000
Non-U.S Income tax benefits	$ 10,728		$ 10,151		$ 4,570				$ 1,300

[1] Includes income tax benefits of $6 million from the reenactment of the U.S. Federal R&D credit in December 2010 and the finalization of the fiscal 2010 tax return.

[2] Includes income tax benefits of $1.3 million from the finalization of the fiscal 2009 tax return, adjustments to certain reserves to reflect the lapse of statute of limitations and higher levels of non-U.S. taxable income.

[3] Includes income tax benefits of $4.0 million from the reenactment of the U.S. Federal R&D credit in October 2008, finalizing prior year tax returns, adjusting certain reserves to reflect the lapse of statute of limitations and a benefit from repatriating foreign earnings to the U.S.