Why is aperture backwards??

[PaulCarter2478]

So, I get that larger f numbers like f/22 actually mean that it's a smaller opening and that smaller f number like f/2 is a big opening. I learned that thanks to a really helpful beginner video I just watched - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpdxMUWF0k0. But my question is this...WHY is the size of the aperture backwards from the numbers. Shouldn't f/22 be a big aperture since it's a big number and f/2 should be a small aperture since it's a small number???

[Andy]

Perhaps the simplest answer is because it is a ratio or a fraction and not a numerical "size" number . Lots of info out there if you google it

[Andy]

Perhaps the simplest answer is because it is a ratio or a fraction and not a numerical "size" number . Lots of info out there if you google it