Find the second lowest number in an array?

Actionscript 2, Flash 6

I just learned enough about arrays to find the lowest number in a group, and I'm pretty pumped.
But now how do I find the SECOND lowest?

I've found plenty on finding max and mins, but finding the runner up yields an informational desert!


This is what's getting me the lowest so far:

Actionscript Code:

minValue = function (array) {
mn = array[0];
for (i=0; i<array.length; i++) {
if (array[i]<mn) {
mn = array[i];
}
}
return mn;
};

k = new Array();
k = [varible1,variable2,variable3,variable5,etc];
smallest_textbox = (minValue(k)); 
// and happily, the smallest variable is displayed in the textbox

Any ideas or suggestions on how to think about this problem?

I need the silver medal, #2, runner up!


+Farm

Forget that, I'm talking rubbish.. that won't always work.

This is just a thought, but maybe looking into the Array.sort(); method. Which would sort the indices based on value, and then select the second index[1], with [0] being the lowest.

I looked at doing this, but array.sort() will sort the numbers based on the first character of element..

So if you have the array:

var Array = [0,9,7,2,1,500];

Sorting this array would give you:

0,1,2,500,7,9

as the 5 of 500 precedes 7.

That's true but one can easily manipulate the function in order to achieve the desired results. A-la-like so,

Actionscript Code:

var nArray:Array = [0, 9, 7, 2, 1, 500];
nArray.sort(Array.NUMERIC);
trace(nArray); // returns 0, 1, 2, 7, 9, 500

Whoa baby! This is so elegant... and it works! Double bonus!

Lightspeed, way to get the ball rolling, much appreciated. And Robb, thanks for the elbow grease!


Best,
Farm

Awesome, I've been wondering how to do that!