Final answer:
The patient's ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, given levels of 196 mg/dL and 56 mg/dL respectively, is simplified to a ratio of 7/2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient's ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol is found by dividing the total cholesterol level by the HDL cholesterol level. In this case, the total cholesterol is 196 mg/dL and the HDL cholesterol is 56 mg/dL. Therefore, the ratio is 196 mg/dL divided by 56 mg/dL.
Ratio = Total cholesterol / HDL cholesterol = 196/56 = 7/2
This ratio can be simplified by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 28 in this case. So, the simplified ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol for the patient is 7/2, interpreted as 3.5 if expressed as a decimal.