Find the 2nd largest element in an array with minimum number of comparisons

Question

For an array of size N, what is the number of comparisons required?

Answer 1

try this.

max1 = a[0].
max2.
for i = 0, until length:
  if a[i] > max:
     max2 = max1.
     max1 = a[i].
     #end IF
  #end FOR
return min2.

it should work like a charm. low in complexity.

here is a java code.

int secondlLargestValue(int[] secondMax){
int max1 = secondMax[0]; // assign the first element of the array, no matter what, sorted or not.
int max2 = 0; // anything really work, but zero is just fundamental.
   for(int n = 0; n < secondMax.length; n++){ // start at zero, end when larger than length, grow by 1. 
        if(secondMax[n] > max1){ // nth element of the array is larger than max1, if so.
           max2 = max1; // largest in now second largest,
           max1 = secondMax[n]; // and this nth element is now max.
        }//end IF
    }//end FOR
    return max2;
}//end secondLargestValue()