CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2022	Feb. 28, 2021	Feb. 28, 2022	Feb. 28, 2021
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 383,314	$ 66,357	$ 616,203	$ 130,450
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			82,360	83,372
Stock-based compensation	16,251		25,870	21,758
Deferred income taxes and other long-term taxes			34,980	(8,129)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(16,052)	(16,841)	(16,052)	(16,841)
Asset impairments			1,228	4,068
Other			835	(105)
Amortization of acquired unfavorable contract backlog	0	(1,509)	0	(3,032)
Net gain on disposals of assets and other	(273,099)	(5,412)	(274,082)	(5,481)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(449,078)	(238,539)
Net cash flows from operating activities			54,368	1,203
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other			309,563	20,338
Capital expenditures			(191,562)	(87,688)
Proceeds from insurance			3,081	0
Net cash flows from (used by) investing activities			121,082	(67,350)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net			740,403	296,250
Repayments of long-term debt			(313,174)	(357,792)
Debt extinguishment costs			(13,642)	(13,051)
Debt issuance costs			(2,977)	(1,124)
Proceeds from accounts receivable facilities			190,730	8,848
Repayments under accounts receivable facilities			(215,196)	(8,848)
Dividends			(34,011)	(28,833)
Treasury stock acquired			(17,010)	0
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans, net of forfeitures			(10,719)	(4,536)
Contribution from non-controlling interest		19	0	19
Net cash flows from (used by) financing activities			324,404	(109,067)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(1,283)	(419)
Increase (decrease) in cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents			498,571	(175,633)
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	999,700	369,331	999,700	369,331
Cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 999,700	$ 369,331	$ 999,700	$ 369,331