Speaking of "learned" in school, in formal writing, coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) are disapproved as sentence starting words. In addition, is "learnt" a word? Oh, and you forgot the comma after "and if not". Have some sympathy for those with math weaknesses Mr. Perfect English. When people attempt to make others feel that their skills are inadequate, it may just point out their own.