A particular Olympic rower can row a distance of 17 miles in an hour in still water. The same individual has to row to a certain point and back in running water, going in his preferred direction first. He covers a distance of 264 miles and back in 1 day and 10 hours. What could be the speed of the stream?

Using the stream boat formula Time = Distance / Speed, the total time of 34 hours for 264 miles downstream and back gives the equation 264 / (17 + v) + 264 / (17 - v) = 34. Factoring 264 out of the left side leaves 264 * 34 / (289 - v^2) = 34, which simplifies to 264 = 289 - v^2, yielding v^2 = 25. Since speed must be positive, v = 5, so the speed of the stream is 5 km/hr.

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