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. 2007 Dec;16(6):478–480. doi: 10.1136/qshc.2007.023465

Table 4 Smallpox, Boston 1721. Decision: inoculate or not (contd).

Expected survival with inoculation Expected survival—do nothing
0.979  =  (x)(0.854)(1) + (x)(0.146)(0) + (1−x)(1)
0.979  =  (0.854)(x) + (1–x)
x–(0.854)(x)  =  1−0.979
(0.146)(x)  =  0.021
x  =  0.021/0.146
x  =  0.144