To store first and second maximums
int f_max = a [ 0 ] , s_max = INT_MIN ; for ( int i = 1 ; i < n ; i ++ ) { if ( a [ i ] <= f_min ) { s_min = f_min ; f_min = a [ i ] ; } else if ( a [ i ] < s_min ) { s_min = a [ i ] ; } if ( a [ i ] >= f_max ) { s_max = f_max ; f_max = a [ i ] ; } else if ( a [ i ] > s_max ) { s_max = a [ i ] ; } } return min ( ( f_max - s_min ) , ( s_max - f_min ) ) ; }