Data Modelling & AI Data Structure & Algorithm

Find a pair in Array with second largest product

23 June 2025

0

Given an array arr[] of N integers, where N > 2, the task is to find the second largest product pair from the given array.

Examples:

Input: arr[] = {10, 20, 12, 40, 50}
Output: 20 50
Explanation:
A pair of array elements = [(10, 20), (10, 12), (10, 40), (10, 50), (20, 12), (20, 40), (20, 50), (12, 40), (12, 50), (40, 50)]
If do product of each pair will get the largest pair as (40, 50) and second largest pair (20, 50)

Input: arr[] = {5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78}
Output: 67 160

Naive Approach: The naive approach is to generate all possible pairs from the given array and insert the product with the pair into the set of pairs. After inserting all the pair products in the set print the second last product of the set. Below are the steps:

Make a set of pairs and their products by the given array.
Insert all the pairs in vector of pairs.
If vector size is 1 then print this pair otherwise print the pair at (total vector size – 2)th position of vector.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for the above approach
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to find second largest
// product of pairs
void secondLargerstPair(int arr[], int N)
{
 
    // If size of array is less than 3
    // then second largest product pair
    // does not exits.
    if (N < 3)
        return;
 
    // Declaring set of pairs which
    // contains possible pairs of array
    // and their products
    set<pair<int, pair<int, int> > > s;
 
    // Declaring vector of pairs
    vector<pair<int, int> > v;
 
    for (int i = 0; i < N; ++i) {
 
        for (int j = i + 1; j < N; ++j) {
 
            // Inserting a set
            s.insert(make_pair(arr[i] * arr[j],
                               make_pair(arr[i],
                                         arr[j])));
        }
    }
 
    // Traverse set of pairs
    for (auto i : s) {
 
        // Inserting values in vector
        // of pairs
        v.push_back(
            make_pair((i.second).first,
                      (i.second).second));
    }
 
    int vsize = v.size();
 
    // Printing the result
    cout << v[vsize - 2].first << " "
         << v[vsize - 2].second << endl;
}
 
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    // Given Array
    int arr[] = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
 
    // Size of Array
    int N = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(arr[0]);
 
    // Function Call
    secondLargerstPair(arr, N);
    return 0;
}

Java

/*package whatever //do not write package name here */
import java.util.*;
public class GFG
{
 
  static class Tuple<K,V>{
 
    K key;
    V val;
 
    Tuple(K k, V v){
      key = k;
      val = v;
    }
 
  }
 
  // Function to find second largest
  // product of pairs
  static void secondLargerstPair(int[] arr, int N)
  {
 
    // If size of array is less than 3
    // then second largest product pair
    // does not exits.
    if (N < 3)
      return;
 
    // Declaring set of pairs which
    // contains possible pairs of array
    // and their products
    TreeSet<Tuple<Integer, Tuple<Integer, Integer>>>  s = new TreeSet<>((t1,t2)->{
 
      int a1 = t1.key, a2 = t1.val.key, a3 = t1.val.val;
      int b1 = t2.key, b2 = t2.val.key, b3 = t2.val.val;
 
      if (a1 < b1)
        return -1;
      if (a1 > b1)
        return 1;
      if (a2 < b2)
        return -1;
      if (a2 > b2)
        return 1;
      if (a3 < b3)
        return -1;
      if (a3 > b3)
        return 1;
      return 0;
 
    });
 
    // Declaring vector of pairs
    List<Tuple<Integer, Integer> > v = new ArrayList<>();
 
    for (int i = 0; i < N; ++i) {
 
      for (int j = i + 1; j < N; ++j) {
 
        // Inserting a set
        s.add(new Tuple(arr[i] * arr[j], new Tuple(arr[i],arr[j])));
      }
    }
 
    // Traverse set of pairs
    for(var i : s){
 
      // Inserting values in vector
      // of pairs
      v.add(new Tuple((i.val).key,(i.val).val));
    }
 
    Collections.sort(v,(a,b)->a.key - b.key);
 
    int vsize = v.size();
 
    // Printing the result
    System.out.println(v.get(vsize - 2).key + " " + v.get(vsize - 2).val);
  }
 
  // Driver Code
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
 
    // Given Array
    int[] arr = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
 
    // Size of Array
    int N = arr.length;
 
    // Function Call
    secondLargerstPair(arr, N);
  }
}
 
// This code is contributed by aadityaburujwale.

Python3

#  Python3 program for the above approach
 
# Function to find second largest
# product of pairs
def secondLargerstPair(arr, N):
 
    # If size of array is less than 3
    # then second largest product pair
    # does not exits.
    if (N < 3):
        return;
 
    # Declaring set of pairs which
    # contains possible pairs of array
    # and their products
    s = set()
 
    # Declaring vector of pairs
    v = [];
 
    for i in range(N):
        for j in range(i + 1, N):
             
            # Inserting a set
            s.add((arr[i] * arr[j], (arr[i], arr[j])))
     
    # Traverse set of pairs
    for i in sorted(s):
 
        # Inserting values in vector
        # of pairs
        v.append((i[1][0], i[1][1]));
     
    vsize = len(v)
 
    # Printing the result
    print(v[vsize - 2][0], v[vsize - 2][1]);
 
# Driver Code
 
# Given Array
arr =  [5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78];
 
# Size of Array
N = len(arr)
 
# Function Call
secondLargerstPair(arr, N);
 
# This code is contributed by phasing17

C#

// C# program for the above approach
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
 
class GFG
{
  // Function to find second largest
  // product of pairs
  static void secondLargerstPair(int[] arr, int N)
  {
 
    // If size of array is less than 3
    // then second largest product pair
    // does not exits.
    if (N < 3)
      return;
 
    // Declaring set of pairs which
    // contains possible pairs of array
    // and their products
    HashSet<Tuple<int, Tuple<int, int> > >  s = new HashSet<Tuple<int, Tuple<int, int> > >();
 
    // Declaring vector of pairs
    List<Tuple<int, int> > v = new List<Tuple<int, int> >();
 
    for (int i = 0; i < N; ++i) {
 
      for (int j = i + 1; j < N; ++j) {
 
        // Inserting a set
        s.Add(Tuple.Create(arr[i] * arr[j], Tuple.Create(arr[i],
                                                         arr[j])));
      }
    }
 
    // Traverse set of pairs
    foreach (var i in s) {
 
      // Inserting values in vector
      // of pairs
      v.Add(
        Tuple.Create((i.Item2).Item1,
                     (i.Item2).Item2));
    }
 
    v.Sort();
 
    int vsize = v.Count;
 
    // Printing the result
    Console.WriteLine(v[vsize - 2].Item1 + " "
                      + v[vsize - 2].Item2);
  }
 
  // Driver Code
  public static void Main(string[] args)
  {
     
    // Given Array
    int[] arr = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
 
    // Size of Array
    int N = arr.Length;
 
    // Function Call
    secondLargerstPair(arr, N);
  }
}
 
// This code is contributed by phasing17

Javascript

//  JS program for the above approach
 
// Function to find second largest
// product of pairs
function secondLargerstPair(arr, N)
{
 
    // If size of array is less than 3
    // then second largest product pair
    // does not exits.
    if (N < 3)
        return;
 
    // Declaring set of pairs which
    // contains possible pairs of array
    // and their products
    let s = new Set()
 
    // Declaring vector of pairs
    let v = [];
 
    for (var i = 0; i < N; i++)
        for (var j = i + 1; j < N; j++)
             
            // Inserting a set
            s.add([arr[i] * arr[j], arr[i], arr[j]].join('#'))
     
    // Traverse set of pairs
    s = Array.from(s)
    s.sort(function(a, b)
    {
        a = a.split('#')
        b = b.split('#')
        let a1 = parseInt(a[0]), a2 = parseInt(a[1]), a3 = parseInt(a[2]) 
        let b1 = parseInt(b[0]), b2 = parseInt(b[1]), b3 = parseInt(b[2]) 
         
        if (a1 < b1)
            return -1
        if (a1 > b1)
            return 1
        if (a2 < b2)
            return -1
        if (a2 > b2)
            return 1
        if (a3 < b3)
            return -1
        if (a3 > b3)
            return 1
        return 0
 
    })
    for (let i of s)
    {
        i = i.split('#')
         
        // Inserting values in vector
        // of pairs
        v.push([i[1], i[2]])
    }
    let vsize = v.length
 
    // Printing the result
    console.log(v[vsize - 2].join(' '))
}
// Driver Code
 
// Given Array
let arr =  [5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78];
 
// Size of Array
let N = arr.length
 
// Function Call
secondLargerstPair(arr, N);
 
// This code is contributed by phasing17

Output

67 160

Time Complexity: O(N²)
Auxiliary Space: O(N), since n extra space has been taken.

Better Solution: A better solution is to traverse all the pairs of the array and while traversing store the largest and second-largest product pairs. After traversal print the pairs with second-largest pairs stored.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for the above approach
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to find second largest
// product pair in arr[0..n-1]
void maxProduct(int arr[], int N)
{
    // No pair exits
    if (N < 3) {
        return;
    }
 
    // Initialize max product pair
    int a = arr[0], b = arr[1];
    int c = 0, d = 0;
 
    // Traverse through every possible pair
    // and keep track of largest product
    for (int i = 0; i < N; i++)
        for (int j = i + 1; j < N; j++) {
 
            // If pair is largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] > a * b) {
 
                // Second largest
                c = a, d = b;
                a = arr[i], b = arr[j];
            }
 
            // If pair does not largest but
            // larger than second largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] < a * b
                && arr[i] * arr[j] > c * d)
                c = arr[i], d = arr[j];
        }
 
    // Print the pairs
    cout << c << " " << d;
}
 
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    // Given array
    int arr[] = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
    int N = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(arr[0]);
 
    // Function Call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program for the above approach
class GFG{ 
   
// Function to find second largest
// product pair in arr[0..n-1]
static void maxProduct(int arr[], int N)
{
    // No pair exits
    if (N < 3)
    {
        return;
    }
  
    // Initialize max product pair
    int a = arr[0], b = arr[1];
    int c = 0, d = 0;
  
    // Traverse through every possible pair
    // and keep track of largest product
    for (int i = 0; i < N; i++)
        for (int j = i + 1; j < N-1; j++) 
        {
  
            // If pair is largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] > a * b) 
            {
  
                // Second largest
                c = a;
                d = b;
                a = arr[i];
                b = arr[j];
            }
  
            // If pair does not largest but
            // larger than second largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] < a * b && 
                arr[i] * arr[j] > c * d)
                c = arr[i];
                d = arr[j];
        }
  
    // Print the pairs
    System.out.println(c + " " + d);
}
  
// Driver Code
public static void main(String[] args)
{
    // Given array
    int arr[] = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
    int N = arr.length;
  
    // Function Call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by Ritik Bansal

Python3

# Python3 program for the above approach
 
# Function to find second largest
# product pair in arr[0..n-1]
def maxProduct(arr, N):
     
    # No pair exits
    if (N < 3):
        return;
     
    # Initialize max product pair
    a = arr[0]; b = arr[1];
    c = 0; d = 0;
 
    # Traverse through every possible pair
    # and keep track of largest product
    for i in range(0, N, 1):
        for j in range(i + 1, N - 1, 1):
 
            # If pair is largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] > a * b):
 
                # Second largest
                c = a;
                d = b;
                a = arr[i];
                b = arr[j];
             
            # If pair does not largest but
            # larger than second largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] < a * b and
                arr[i] * arr[j] > c * d):
                c = arr[i];
                 
            d = arr[j];
         
    # Print the pairs
    print(c, " ", d);
 
# Driver Code
if __name__ == '__main__':
     
    # Given array
    arr = [ 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78];
    N = len(arr);
 
    # Function call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
 
# This code is contributed by Amit Katiyar 

C#

// C# program for the above approach
using System;
 
class GFG{ 
 
// Function to find second largest
// product pair in arr[0..n-1]
static void maxProduct(int []arr, int N)
{
     
    // No pair exits
    if (N < 3)
    {
        return;
    }
 
    // Initialize max product pair
    int a = arr[0], b = arr[1];
    int c = 0, d = 0;
 
    // Traverse through every possible pair
    // and keep track of largest product
    for(int i = 0; i < N; i++)
        for(int j = i + 1; j < N - 1; j++) 
        {
             
            // If pair is largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] > a * b) 
            {
 
                // Second largest
                c = a;
                d = b;
                a = arr[i];
                b = arr[j];
            }
 
            // If pair does not largest but
            // larger than second largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] < a * b && 
                arr[i] * arr[j] > c * d)
                c = arr[i];
                d = arr[j];
        }
 
    // Print the pairs
    Console.WriteLine(c + " " + d);
}
 
// Driver Code
public static void Main(String[] args)
{
     
    // Given array
    int []arr = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
    int N = arr.Length;
 
    // Function call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar

Javascript

<script>
 
// JavaScript program for the above approach
 
// Function to find second largest
// product pair in arr[0..n-1]
function maxProduct(arr, N)
{
    // No pair exits
    if (N < 3) {
        return;
    }
 
    // Initialize max product pair
    let a = arr[0], b = arr[1];
    let c = 0, d = 0;
 
    // Traverse through every possible pair
    // and keep track of largest product
    for (let i = 0; i < N; i++)
        for (let j = i + 1; j < N; j++) {
 
            // If pair is largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] > a * b) {
 
                // Second largest
                c = a, d = b;
                a = arr[i], b = arr[j];
            }
 
            // If pair does not largest but
            // larger than second largest
            if (arr[i] * arr[j] < a * b
                && arr[i] * arr[j] > c * d)
                c = arr[i], d = arr[j];
        }
 
    // Print the pairs
    document.write(c + " " + d);
}
 
// Driver Code
    // Given array
    let arr = [ 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 ];
    let N = arr.length;
 
    // Function Call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
 
// This code is contributed by Surbhi Tyagi.
 
</script>

Output

67 160

Time Complexity: O(N²)
Auxiliary Space: O(N)

Efficient Approach:

Sort the array.
Find first and third smallest elements for handling negative numbers.
Find the first and third largest elements for handling positive numbers.
Compare the product of the smallest pair and largest pair.
Return the largest one of them.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for the above approach
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to find second largest
// product pair in arr[0..n-1]
void maxProduct(int arr[], int N)
{
    // No pair exits
    if (N < 3) {
        return;
    }
 
    // Sort the array
    sort(arr, arr + N);
 
    // Initialize smallest element
    // of the array
    int smallest1 = arr[0];
    int smallest3 = arr[2];
 
    // Initialize largest element
    // of the array
    int largest1 = arr[N - 1];
    int largest3 = arr[N - 3];
 
    // Print second largest product pair
    if (smallest1 * smallest3
        >= largest1 * largest3) {
        cout << smallest1 << " " << smallest3;
    }
    else {
        cout << largest1 << " " << largest3;
    }
}
 
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    // Given array
    int arr[] = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
 
    int N = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(arr[0]);
 
    // Function Call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program for the above approach
import java.util.*;
class GFG{
 
// Function to find second largest
// product pair in arr[0..n-1]
static void maxProduct(int arr[], int N)
{
    // No pair exits
    if (N < 3) 
    {
        return;
    }
 
    // Sort the array
    Arrays.sort(arr);
 
    // Initialize smallest element
    // of the array
    int smallest1 = arr[0];
    int smallest3 = arr[2];
 
    // Initialize largest element
    // of the array
    int largest1 = arr[N - 1];
    int largest3 = arr[N - 3];
 
    // Print second largest product pair
    if (smallest1 * smallest3 >= 
        largest1 * largest3) 
    {
        System.out.print(smallest1 + " " + 
                         smallest3);
    }
    else
    {
        System.out.print(largest1 + " " +  
                         largest3);
    }
}
 
// Driver Code
public static void main(String[] args)
{
    // Given array
    int arr[] = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
 
    int N = arr.length;
 
    // Function Call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by gauravrajput1

Python3

# Python3 program for the above approach
 
# Function to find second largest
# product pair in arr[0..n-1]
def maxProduct(arr, N):
   
    # No pair exits
    if (N < 3):
        return;
 
    # Sort the array
    arr.sort();
 
    # Initialize smallest element
    # of the array
    smallest1 = arr[0];
    smallest3 = arr[2];
 
    # Initialize largest element
    # of the array
    largest1 = arr[N - 1];
    largest3 = arr[N - 3];
 
    # Print second largest product pair
    if (smallest1 *
        smallest3 >= largest1 *
                     largest3):
        print(smallest1 , " " , smallest3);
    else:
        print(largest1 , " " , largest3);
 
# Driver Code
if __name__ == '__main__':
   
    # Given array
    arr = [5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78];
 
    N = len(arr);
 
    # Function Call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
 
# This code is contributed by sapnasingh4991

C#

// C# program for the above approach
using System;
class GFG{
 
// Function to find second largest
// product pair in arr[0..n-1]
static void maxProduct(int []arr, int N)
{
    // No pair exits
    if (N < 3) 
    {
        return;
    }
 
    // Sort the array
    Array.Sort(arr);
 
    // Initialize smallest element
    // of the array
    int smallest1 = arr[0];
    int smallest3 = arr[2];
 
    // Initialize largest element
    // of the array
    int largest1 = arr[N - 1];
    int largest3 = arr[N - 3];
 
    // Print second largest product pair
    if (smallest1 * smallest3 >= 
        largest1 * largest3) 
    {
        Console.Write(smallest1 + " " + 
                      smallest3);
    }
    else
    {
        Console.Write(largest1 + " " +  
                      largest3);
    }
}
 
// Driver Code
public static void Main(String[] args)
{
    // Given array
    int []arr = { 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 };
 
    int N = arr.Length;
 
    // Function Call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by Rohit_ranjan

Javascript

<script>
// JavaScript program for the above approach
 
// Function to find second largest
// product pair in arr[0..n-1]
function maxProduct(arr, N)
{
    // No pair exits
    if (N < 3)
    {
        return;
    }
  
    // Sort the array
    arr.sort((a, b) => a - b)
  
    // Initialize smallest element
    // of the array
    let smallest1 = arr[0];
    let smallest3 = arr[2];
  
    // Initialize largest element
    // of the array
    let largest1 = arr[N - 1];
    let largest3 = arr[N - 3];
  
    // Print second largest product pair
    if (smallest1 * smallest3 >=
        largest1 * largest3)
    {
        document.write(smallest1 + " " +
                         smallest3);
    }
    else
    {
        document.write(largest1 + " " + 
                         largest3);
    }
}
     
// Driver Code
     
       // Given array
    let arr = [ 5, 2, 67, 45, 160, 78 ];
  
    let N = arr.length;
  
    // Function Call
    maxProduct(arr, N);
              
</script>

Output

160 67

Time Complexity: O(N*log N)
Auxiliary Space: O(1), since no extra space has been taken.

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