I'll try and answer your second question...
The jet engine (or turbofan engine in recent years) is a lot more efficient at higher speed as compared to the wings. After all, these are not gliders, therefore the most fuel efficient speed is a lot higher compared to the minimum drag speed because at those speed, the engine is sipping as little fuel as possible while covering the most distance forward...
That is the easiest explanation I can give. But if the question is why is it that the max range speed is exactly 1.32 Vmd, I'm afraid my knowledge doesn't go that deep...