C++ program for finding the second smallest element in an array

October 6, 2022

Second smallest element in an array in C++

Second Smallest Element in an array in C++

Here, in this page we will discuss the program to find the second smallest element in an array in C++ programming language. We are given with an array and need to print the second smallest element among them.

While loop in C

Here, in this page we will discuss the following methods to find the second smallest element of the array.

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

Method 1 :

  • Declare a variable say smallest = arr[0], that variable hold the first minimum value of the array.
  • Run a loop and check if(arr[i]<smallest) then set smallest = arr[i].
  • Now, take a variable say sec_smallest = INT_MAX
  • Now, run a loop over the array, and check
  • If(arr[i]!=smallest && arr[i] < sec_smallest), then set sec_smallest = arr[i]
  • At last Print(sec_smallest)

Method 1 Code in C++

Run 
#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

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};

    int n = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]); 

    cout<<secSmallest(arr, n);
}

Output

20
 

Find the Smallest and largest element in an array

Calculate the sum of elements in an array 

Reverse an Array

Sort first half in ascending order and second half in descending 

Method 2 :

  • Take Two variables say first = INT_MAX and second = INT_MAX to hold the first and second smallest elements respectively.
  • Run a loop to iterate over the entire array.
  • Check if (arr[i]<first) then set second = first and first = arr[i].
  • Else check if(second > arr[i]) then set second = arr[i]
  • After complete iteration print second.
Second smallest element

Method 2 Code in C++

Run 
#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

int main(){

   int arr[] ={ 90, 78, 67, 56, 7, 61, 10};
   int n = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]);

   int first = INT_MAX, second = INT_MAX;

   for(int i=0; i<n; i++){
       if(arr[i] < first){ second = first; first = arr[i]; } else if(second>arr[i])
           second = arr[i];
    }

    cout<<second;
}

Output

10

Prime Course Trailer

Related Banners

Get PrepInsta Prime & get Access to all 200+ courses offered by PrepInsta in One Subscription

Get Prime
Software Engineering SDLC

1 comments on “C++ program for finding the second smallest element in an array”


  • Sritulasi

    #include
    using namespace std;
    int main()
    {
    int n;
    cin>>n;
    vectorv(n);

    for(int i=0;i>v[i];
    }
    sort(v.begin(),v.end());
    for(int i=0;i<n;i++){
    cout<<v[1];
    break;
    }
    return 0;

    }