Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net (loss) income attributable to Apollo (basic and diluted)	$ (33,610)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 14,605us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 175us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 113,496us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	108,166,000	112,151,000	108,375,000	112,742,000
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of share-based awards (in shares)	0
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	108,166,000	113,380,000	109,337,000	113,676,000
Basic (loss) income per share attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ (0.31)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.13us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.00us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.01us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted (loss) income per share attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ (0.31)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.13us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.00us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.00us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Restricted stock units and performance share awards [Member]
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of share-based awards (in shares)	0	1,070,000	759,000	838,000
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share computation (in shares)	929,000	9,000	11,000	842,000
Stock options [Member]
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of share-based awards (in shares)	0	159,000	203,000	96,000
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share computation (in shares)	2,572,000	2,628,000	2,411,000	3,079,000

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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