settings-help? what to look at

[Kathleen]

I'm rather new so I hope this doesn't come across sounding dumb. I'm confused as to what number to look at when looking through the viewfinder. I understand what the settings do, ie: tv we control shutter speed, av we control aperture (I even understand the larger the number the smaller the opening), A-Dep camera evaluates all points...but I don't know what number to look at in the viewfinder when using these modes???? Is it the number to the left or the to the right that I'm setting/changing? They both change so that confuses me.
Canon Rebel XT

 

[Dubious Drewski]

If you are in shutter or aperture priority, then changing one will cause the camera to change the other because it's trying to keep the proper exposure. That's good, that means your camera is working

Put it in manual for a second and see which wheel changes what.

 

[Big Mike]

Click

 

[Kathleen]

Thanks Mike! I've printed it and it has already found a place in my backpack!

 

[JIP]

That was a very helpful post from Mike as usual but you know all of that stuff is in your instruction manual in detail.