Note 17 - Income Taxes - Provision for Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	[1]	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	[2]
U.S. operations		$ 218,650			$ 353,434				$ 263,411
Non-U.S. operations		125,662			107,559				70,343
Income before income taxes		344,312			460,993				333,754
U.S. operations		65,403			106,671				88,147
Non-U.S. operations		20,650			15,507				4,556
Total provision for income taxes		$ 86,053			$ 122,178				$ 92,703
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	25.00%		25.00%	26.50%		26.50%		27.80%		27.80%

[1] The fiscal 2016 effective tax rate of 26.5% includes income tax benefits of $10.5 million primarily from the permanent reenactment of the U.S. Federal R&D Tax Credit (the "R&D tax credit") in December 2015, finalizing the fiscal 2015 tax returns and other discrete items. The reenactment of the R&D tax credit was retroactive to January 1, 2015, and eliminates the yearly uncertainty surrounding the extension of the credit.

[2] The fiscal 2015 effective tax rate of 27.8% includes income tax benefits of $8.8 million primarily from the reenactment of the R&D tax credit in December 2014, finalizing the fiscal 2014 tax returns and other discrete items.