Sorting arrays: second last - php

Question

ksort ($votes);
foreach ($votes as $total => $contestant){
$ordervotes[]= $contestant;
}
echo "<li> And the winner is: {$ordervotes[4]}</li>";
echo "<li> And the loser is: {$ordervotes[0]}</li>";
echo "<li> {$ordervotes[1]} came second last</li>";
This works fine when none of the '$total's are the same, if they are the same i get an error code. I realise I could use the 'max/min' to get the first and last elements of the array, but how do i go about finding the second last?
Thank you
Joe

Answer 1

Why don't you try:
echo $votes[count($votes)-2];
You also don't need to populate another array with the same values - you can keep them in $votes. You might also want to look into sorting your array by value instead of by key (which I assume you're trying to do).
If you're expecting duplicate keys, you need to remodel the way you're storing your data. Consider using a multidimensional array:
$votes = array(
array('name'=>'John','vote'=>10),
array('name'=>'James','vote'=>11),
array('name'=>'Jimmy','vote'=>13),
);
You will be able to sort this array using this function and code:
// This function will sort your array
function aasort (&$array, $key) {
$sorter=array();
$ret=array();
reset($array);
foreach ($array as $ii => $va) {
$sorter[$ii]=$va[$key];
}
asort($sorter);
foreach ($sorter as $ii => $va) {
$ret[$ii]=$array[$ii];
}
$array=$ret;
}
// Sort the array by the 'vote' key
aasort($votes,"vote");
// Echo out the name of the second-last person
echo $votes[count($votes)-2]['name'];

Answer 2

Use this:
function secondMax($arr) {
$max = $second = 0;
$maxKey = $secondKey = null;
foreach($arr as $key => $value) {
if($value > $max) {
$second = $max;
$secondKey = $maxKey;
$max = $value;
$maxKey = $key;
} elseif($value > $secondMax) {
$second = $value;
$secondKey = $key;
}
}
return array($secondKey, $second);
}
Usage:
$second = secondMax($votes);

Answer 3

You can retrieve it by using the function count:
$ordervotes[ (count($ordervotes)-2) ]
// the array starts with index 0, so (count($ordervotes)-1) is the last element

Answer 4

I don't understand what is in your $votes variable ... How could you have multiple contestants with the same votes (and so, with the same key).
I think there is a mistake here.
You $votes should be like this :
$votes = array(
'contestant 1' => 8,
'contestant 2' => 12,
'contestant 3' => 3
);
Then order the array : sort($votes)
Finaly, get the second last : $votes[count($votes) - 2];