Final answer:
To maximize profit, the operator needs 52 people to go on the tour.
Step-by-step explanation:
To maximize profit, we need to consider the number of people that will generate the highest revenue and minus the total cost. Let's calculate the revenue and cost for different numbers of people:
For 50 people, the revenue will be $200 x 50 = $10,000 and the cost will be ($6000 + $32 x 50) = $11,600.
For 51 people, the revenue will be $198 x 51 = $10,098 and the cost will be ($6000 + $32 x 51) = $11,632.
For 52 people, the revenue will be $196 x 52 = $10,192 and the cost will be ($6000 + $32 x 52) = $11,664.
As we can see, the profit increases as the number of people increases up to a certain point. Therefore, the maximum profit will be achieved when 52 people go on the tour.