def findMinIndex(a_list,start_index, verbose=False):
    """assumes that a_list is a list of numbers
    assumes start)index is an int, representing the index where to start looking
    returns a tuple (int,number)
    the index of the smallest number found between start_index and the end of the list, inclusive,
    and the value of this smallest number
    if there is a tie for smallest valye, returns the 1st occurence
    """
    min_index =  start_index
    min_value = a_list[start_index]
    for index in range(start_index,len(a_list)):
        if a_list[index] < min_value:
            min_index = index
            min_value = a_list[index]
    if verbose:
        print("The index of the minimum value of the subarray starting at index " + str(start_index)
              +" is " + str(min_index) + "."  )
    return min_index