In which case does the binary search algorithm perform the worst? Question 17Select one: When the array contains duplicate elements When the element is not present in the array When the array is already sorted When the element is at the middle of the array

The binary search algorithm performs the worst when the element is not present in the array.

Here's why:

1. Binary search algorithm is a search algorithm that finds the position of a target value within a sorted array. It compares the target value to the middle element of the array.

2. If they are not equal, the half in which the target cannot lie is eliminated and the search continues on the remaining half, again taking the middle element to compare to the target value, and repeating this until the target value is found.

3. If the search ends with the remaining half being empty, the target is not in the array. This is the worst-case scenario because the algorithm has to go through the entire array and still doesn't find the target value.

4. In the other cases, the search would end once the target is found, which would take less time if the array is already sorted, or if the element is at the middle of the array. Even if the array contains duplicate elements, it wouldn't affect the performance as much as when the element is not present in the array.