Consider the original array 17, 8, 12, 4, 26. How many comparisons are needed…

To construct a Binary Search Tree (BST) from the array [17, 8, 12, 4, 26], we insert elements sequentially. \\[n=5\\] elements require insertion into the tree, but we count comparisons made during each insertion.\\[n=1\\] First element (17) is the root; 0 comparisons. \\[n=2\\] Insert 8: compare with 17 (left) → 1 comparison. \\[n=3\\] Insert 12: compare with 17 (left), then with 8 (right) → 2 comparisons. \\[n=4\\] Insert 4: compare with 17 (left), then with 8 (left) → 2 comparisons. \\[n=5\\] Insert 26: compare with 17 (right) → 1 comparison. \\[n=Total\\] Total comparisons = 0 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 6. \\[n=Options\\] Options A (5), B (10), and C (7) are incorrect. Thus, 'None of the above' is correct.