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An interest in maths has multiplied in one Auckland family - mum and daughter are about to graduate after doing research in the subject.
University lecturer Bobbie Hunter will receive a PhD and daughter Jodie Hunter will get a Master's in Education in Massey University's Auckland graduation next week .
Both have researched different aspects of teaching maths.
Dr Hunter's work on encouraging children at a low decile West Auckland school to question and reason in maths class saw some pupils gain six years of maths ability in a year and won her an Australasian maths education research award.
Meanwhile, the studies of Ms Hunter - a teacher at Oranga Primary and the president of the Primary Maths Association - included methods for unravelling algebraic number sentences for Year 5 and 6 pupils.
Despite the pair laughing off a suggestion their shared interest could be hereditary, Ms Hunter admitted to enjoying maths as a child when it was taught by her mum.
When Ms Hunter was hospitalised for much of her Year 8 in school with a life-threatening lung condition, Dr Hunter was at her bedside daily to talk numbers.
"She read a lot and was very literate - I was very concerned that she didn't fall behind in maths.
"So we used to do maths every day," said Dr Hunter.
"She went back at the end of the year to school and she was really advanced."
Dr Hunter also used to quiz her children in the car on the way to school with number games.
They also held discussions about patterns and the way numbers combine.
