docs: def _ingest_number(self, input_number, path_to_root):
  
          '''
              a helper method for ingesting a number
  
          :return: valid_number
          '''
  
          valid_number = 0.0
  
          try:
              valid_number = self._validate_number(input_number, path_to_root)
          except:
              rules_path_to_root = re.sub('\[\d+\]', '[0]', path_to_root)
              if 'default_value' in self.keyMap[rules_path_to_root]:
                  valid_number = self.keyMap[rules_path_to_root]['default_value']
              elif 'integer_data' in self.keyMap[rules_path_to_root].keys():
                  if self.keyMap[rules_path_to_root]['integer_data']:
                      valid_number = 0
  
          return valid_number