public int getMaximumDifference_as_int(){
        int diff = 0;
        if(this.type==6 || this.type==7){
            int max = this.getMaximum_as_int();
            int min = this.getMinimum_as_int();
            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 int or Integer the difference for a " + this.typeName[this.type] +"[] array");
        }
        return diff;
    }