At 12 50, Cole left Town X for Town Y, driving at a speed of 87 km/h. At 14 50, Ian also left Town X for Town Y driving at a certain speed. Both of them did not change their speed throughout the journey. At 17 50, both of them passed a museum that was 174 km away from Town Y. How many minutes earlier did Ian reach Town Y than Cole?

Distance that Cole travelled
= 5 x 87
= 435 km

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

Since Ian passed the museum at the same time as Cole, it means that Ian travelled 435 km in 3 hours.

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

Duration that Ian took to reach Town Y after passing the museum
= 174 ÷ 145
= 1.2 h

Duration that Cole took to reach Town Y after passing the museum
= 174 ÷ 87
= 2 h

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

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

Ian reached Town Y 48 minutes earlier than Cole.

Answer(s): 48 min