Comment. The best way to do this is to let 1/r = a and 1/r^2 = a^2. Now rewrite the problem.
Solution [tex] \frac{49 - a^2}{7 - a} \\ \frac{(7 - a)(7 + a)}{7 - a}\text{ Notice a cancellation can take place} [/tex]
There is a 7 - a in both numerator and denominator, so that cancel providing a does not equal 7. a cannot equal 7 because that will put a 7 in the denominator and that makes the whole fraction = something over 0 which is undefined.
Answer So far what we have is 7 + a
But a = 1/r So the answer can be 7 + 1/r
r can be anything but 0 [for this answer] and 1/7 for the cancellation.