Final answer:
The order of a new stream formed from the confluence of two streams of different orders is one order higher than the higher of the two merging streams. If streams of different orders merge, the order remains that of the higher-order stream.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two streams of different order merge, the order of the new stream is one order higher than the stream with the higher order. For instance, if a first-order stream combines with a second-order stream, the resulting stream will be a third-order stream. It is critical to understand that only streams of the same order can increase the stream order when they join. If a first-order stream meets another first-order stream, then the resulting stream becomes a second-order stream. However, if a first-order stream joins with a second-order stream, the order does not increase to a third-order; it remains a second-order stream.