C Program to find Second smallest element in an array

October 6, 2022

Find Second Smallest Element in an Array in C

Today we learn how to Find the Second smallest element in an array with help of the C Programming concept.

second smallest element

Different methods covered in this post

  • Method 1: Uses two loops find 2nd smallest
  • Method 2: Uses a single loop to find 2nd smallest

Let’s look at both the methods one by one

second smallest element in array in c

Method 1

Working

  • We assign min = arr[0]
  • In loop 1, we find the smallest element in the array
  • We assign sec_smallest = INT_MAX
  • In loop 2, we try to find the element with the given condition
    • (arr[i] != smallest && arr[i] < sec_smallest)

Method Code in C

Run
Run 
 
#include <stdio.h>
#include <limits.h>

int secSmallest(int arr[], int n)
{
    // assigning first element as smallest temporarily
    int smallest = arr[0];
    
    // we find the smallest element here
    for (int i=0; i < n; i++){
        if(arr[i] < smallest)
            smallest = arr[i];
    }
    
    // temporarily assinging largest max value
    int sec_smallest = INT_MAX;
    
    // finding second smallest here
    for (int i=0; i < n; i++){
        if(arr[i] != smallest && arr[i] < sec_smallest)
            sec_smallest = arr[i];
    }

    return sec_smallest;
    
}
int main()
{
    int arr[] = {70, 40, 30, 20, 10, 90};
    
    // get the length of the array
    int len = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]);    
    
    printf("The 2nd smallest : %d",secSmallest(arr, len));
}

Output

The 2nd smallest : 20
While loop in C
 

Find the Smallest and largest element in an array

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Sort first half in ascending order and second half in descending 

Method 2

We try to find smallest and 2nd smallest with variable first and second respectively

Working

  • first = second = INT_MAX
  • If the current element being read is the smallest i.e. if (arr[i] < first)
    • Do second = first, first = arr[i];
  • else if you’re reading an element that lies between first and second
    • Do second = arr[i]
Second smallest element in an array in C
Run
Run 
#include <stdio.h>
#include <limits.h>

void get2ndSmallest(int arr[], int n)
{
    int i, first, second;
 
    /* The array must have 2 or more items */
    if (n < 2)
    {
        printf(" Array has lesser than 2 items");
        return;
    }
 
    first = second = INT_MAX;
    for (i = 0; i < n ; i ++)
    {
        /* If the current array element is smaller than the first
        then update both first and second */
        if (arr[i] < first)
        {
            second = first;
            first = arr[i];
        }
 
        /* If arr[i] lies between first and second
        then update second */
        else if (arr[i] < second && arr[i] != first)
            second = arr[i];
    }
    if (second == INT_MAX)
        printf("We don't have 2nd smallest item in array\n");
    else
        printf("The 2nd smallest : %d",second);
}
 
int main()
{
    int arr[] = {70, 40, 30, 20, 10, 90};
    int len = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]);

    get2ndSmallest(arr, len);

    return 0;
}

Output

The 2nd smallest : 20
While loop in C

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