Anita Ponsaing receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical & Statistical Frontiers (ACEMS). Most people will probably remember the times tables from primary school quizzes.

I like things that come in twos, I like ears and elbows and knees, I like pairs of gloves and turtle doves, I like wings and wellies and water skis. When you’re counting slippers or flippers or shoes ...