def get$\_$best$\_$value$($data$,$ index, maximum$=$True$)$:

$"""$

Returns the 'best' value from a given column in a $2-$dimensional nested list.

This function is a helper function for get$\_$minimums $($whose docstring you should

read and understand first$).$

The data parameter is a $2-$dimensional nested list of data. The index parameter

indicates which "colummn" of data should be evaluated. Each item in that column

is expected to be a number in string format. Each item should be evaluated as a

float and the best value selected as the return value for the function. The

best value is determined by the maximum parameter and is either the highest or

lowest float value.