input: def nearest_whole_number(num_str):
      '''
      Develop a function that receives a string representing a numeric value
      and outputs the nearest whole number. If the numeric value is equidistant
      between two whole numbers, round it away from zero.
  
      Examples
      >>> nearest_whole_number("10")
      10
      >>> nearest_whole_number("15.3")
      15
  
      Note:
      Rounding away from zero implies that if the number is exactly halfway
      between two whole numbers, the function should return the number that is
      farther from zero. For instance nearest_whole_number("14.5") would
      return 15 and nearest_whole_number("-14.5") would return -15.
      '''
output:     
      num = float(num_str)
      if num >= 0:
          return int(num + 0.5)
      else:
          return int(num - 0.5)
  