Q:

Given a non-empty array of integers, return the third maximum number in this array. If it does not exist, return the maximum number. The time complexity must be in O(n).
Example 1:
Input: [3, 2, 1]
Output: 1

Explanation: The third maximum is 1.
Example 2:
Input: [1, 2]
Output: 2**
Explanation:** The third maximum does not exist, so the maximum (2) is returned instead.

Example 3:
Input: [2, 2, 3, 1]
Output: 1
Explanation: Note that the third maximum here means the third maximum distinct number.Both numbers with value 2 are both considered as second maximum.

A:

1. Long.MIN_VALUE = -9223372036854775808 vs Integer.MIN_VALUE = -2147483648
   当test case = [1, 2, -2147483648]时，应该返回-2147483648，这个值是第三大。但如果代码为return third == Integer.MIN_VALUE? first ：third，那么判断会成立而返回first值。因为当时初始化后，系统混淆了Integer.MIN_VALUE?和nums[2]的值。
2. continue;只会结束current iteration，
   而break;直接move forward to next code block了。
3. 一直track，top3 最大值，每一次都要比较，只要出现不同，就要进行替换。

public class Solution {
    public int thirdMax (int[] nums) {
        long first = Long.MIN_VALUE;
        long second = Long.MIN_VALUE;
        long third = Long.MIN_VALUE;
        for (int i:nums){
            if (i>first){
                third = second;
                second = first;
                first = i;
            }else if (i == first)     //必要
                continue;
            else if (i > second){
                third = second;
                second = i;
            }else if (i == second)     //必要
                continue;
            else if (i > third){
                third = i;
            }
        }
        return third == Long.MIN_VALUE ? (int)first : (int)third;
          //method 要求返回类型为int，强制转化一下，narrowing conversion
    }
}