Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2018	Feb. 28, 2017	Feb. 28, 2018	Feb. 28, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 832,100,000	$ 804,700,000	$ 1,674,900,000	$ 1,655,900,000
Cost of products sold	497,200,000	468,900,000	989,800,000	960,500,000
Gross profit	334,900,000	335,800,000	685,100,000	695,400,000
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses	246,300,000	227,800,000	477,700,000	459,600,000
Special charge	600,000	0	800,000	1,200,000
Operating profit	88,000,000	108,000,000	206,600,000	234,600,000
Other expense (income):
Interest expense, net	8,000,000	8,000,000	16,100,000	16,200,000
Miscellaneous expense (income), net	1,300,000	600,000	900,000	(7,300,000)
Total other expense	9,300,000	8,600,000	17,000,000	8,900,000
Income before income taxes	78,700,000	99,400,000	189,600,000	225,700,000
Income tax (benefit) expense	(18,200,000)	32,100,000	21,200,000	76,700,000
Net income	$ 96,900,000	$ 67,300,000	$ 168,400,000	$ 149,000,000
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.34	$ 1.54	$ 4.05	$ 3.40
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	41.4	43.8	41.6	43.8
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.33	$ 1.53	$ 4.04	$ 3.39
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)	41.5	44.0	41.7	44.0
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.13	$ 0.26	$ 0.26
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 96,900,000	$ 67,300,000	$ 168,400,000	$ 149,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss) items:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	2,500,000	3,300,000	(8,000,000)	(8,600,000)
Defined benefit pension plans, net of tax	1,800,000	2,100,000	3,400,000	4,100,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	4,300,000	5,400,000	(4,600,000)	(4,500,000)
Comprehensive income	$ 101,200,000	$ 72,700,000	$ 163,800,000	$ 144,500,000