def reductionOperations(self, nums): #time O(N), space #O(nums range)

        nums_max = max(nums) # time O(N), space O(1)
        nums_min = min(nums) # time O(N), space O(1)

        freq_arr = [0] * (nums_max - nums_min) #space O(nums range)

        for num in nums: #O(N)

            if num != nums_min:
                freq_arr[abs(num - nums_max)] += 1
        
        accumulator = 0
        n_operations = 0

        for i in range(len(freq_arr)): #O(N)

            if freq_arr[i] > 0:
                freq_arr[i] += accumulator
                accumulator = freq_arr[i]
                n_operations += freq_arr[i]

        return n_operations