Stop in for a cup of coffee

The higher the number the more closed the aperture is. It let's in less light like the pupils in your eye when you go out in bright sun. Taking pictures in low light without a flash? Open the aperture up to let more light in.
TriX 400 and push the heck out of it in the dark room!
That was pretty much SOP when I was playing jr/sr/ news photographer and editor. Fun times.