Maximum Difference Between Increasing Elements

Given a 0-indexed integer array nums of size n, find the maximum difference between nums[i] and nums[j] (i.e., nums[j] - nums[i]), such that 0 <= i < j < n and nums[i] < nums[j].

Return the maximum difference. If no such i and j exists, return -1.

Example 1:

Input: nums = [7,1,5,4]
Output: 4
Explanation:
The maximum difference occurs with i = 1 and j = 2, nums[j] - nums[i] = 5 - 1 = 4.
Note that with i = 1 and j = 0, the difference nums[j] - nums[i] = 7 - 1 = 6, but i > j, so it is not valid.

Example 2:

Input: nums = [9,4,3,2]
Output: -1
Explanation:
There is no i and j such that i < j and nums[i] < nums[j].

Example 3:

Input: nums = [1,5,2,10]
Output: 9
Explanation:
The maximum difference occurs with i = 0 and j = 3, nums[j] - nums[i] = 10 - 1 = 9.

Constraints:

• n == nums.length
• 2 <= n <= 1000
• 1 <= nums[i] <= 109

SOLUTION:

class Solution:
    def maximumDifference(self, nums: List[int]) -> int:
        mdiff = float('-inf')
        minSoFar = nums[0]
        for num in nums:
            minSoFar = min(minSoFar, num)
            mdiff = max(mdiff, num - minSoFar)
        if mdiff > 0:
            return mdiff
        return -1