At 10 45, Simon left Town Z for Town A, driving at a speed of 93 km/h. At 12 45, Ben also left Town Z for Town A driving at a certain speed. Both of them did not change their speed throughout the journey. At 15 45, both of them passed a bank that was 186 km away from Town A. How many minutes earlier did Ben reach Town A than Simon?

Distance that Simon travelled
= 5 x 93
= 465 km

Distance between Town Z and Town A
= 465 + 186
= 651 km

Since Ben passed the bank at the same time as Simon, it means that Ben travelled 465 km in 3 hours.

Ben's speed during the journey
= 465 ÷ 3
= 155 km/h

Duration that Ben took to reach Town A after passing the bank
= 186 ÷ 155
= 1.2 h

Duration that Simon took to reach Town A after passing the bank
= 186 ÷ 93
= 2 h

Difference between the time they took to reach Town A
= 2 - 1.2
= 0.8 h

1 h = 60 min
0.8 h = 0.8 x 60 = 48 min

Ben reached Town A 48 minutes earlier than Simon.

Answer(s): 48 min