How can we find second maximum from array efficiently?

Question

Is it possible to find the second maximum number from an array of integers by traversing the array only once?

As an example, I have a array of five integers from whi

Answer 1

Other way to solve this problem, is to use comparisons among the elements. Like for example,

a[10] = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}

Compare 1,2 and say max = 2 and second max = 1

Now compare 3 and 4 and compare the greatest of them with max.

if element > max
     second max = max
     element = max
else if element > second max
     second max = element

The advantage with this is, you are eliminating two numbers in just two comparisons.

Let me know, if you have any problem understanding this.