At 10 50, Billy left Town W for Town X, driving at a speed of 87 km/h. At 12 50, Albert also left Town W for Town X driving at a certain speed. Both of them did not change their speed throughout the journey. At 15 50, both of them passed a bistro that was 174 km away from Town X. How many minutes earlier did Albert reach Town X than Billy?

Distance that Billy travelled
= 5 x 87
= 435 km

Distance between Town W and Town X
= 435 + 174
= 609 km

Since Albert passed the bistro at the same time as Billy, it means that Albert travelled 435 km in 3 hours.

Albert's speed during the journey
= 435 ÷ 3
= 145 km/h

Duration that Albert took to reach Town X after passing the bistro
= 174 ÷ 145
= 1.2 h

Duration that Billy took to reach Town X after passing the bistro
= 174 ÷ 87
= 2 h

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

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

Albert reached Town X 48 minutes earlier than Billy.

Answer(s): 48 min