Are you trying to determine the heat range of plugs you already have??? Generally the number indicates a hotter plug by using a larger number, a Motorcraft BF82 is a hotter plug than BF42, by the same token a Champion F-11Y is colder than a F-14Y... There are numerous guides on the net explaining differences in heat range but generally the the electrode and insulator will be thinner/smaller on a hot plug vs cold...
Not *quite* hijacking this, but when would you want to go hotter or colder with the plugs? I've heard a lot of round-a-bout answers, nothing that ever made sense. Colder plugs if you detonate?