public long getMaximumDifference_as_long(){
        long diff = 0L;
        if(this.type==4 || this.type==5){
            long max = this.getMaximum_as_long();
            long min = this.getMinimum_as_long();
            diff = max - min;
        }
        else{
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Maximum difference may only be returned as the same type as the type of the internal array - you are trying to return as long or Long the difference for a " + this.typeName[this.type] +"[] array");
        }
        return diff;
    }