The Marksmith AU

The minus that went missing

You treat the sign as something to fix later.

A constant factor is part of the object, not decoration. The $\tfrac12$ from $\int \sin^2$, the minus from swapping limits, the $2\pi$ from a shell — each belongs written in front.

Next time: Put every constant factor out in front and leave it.

Try it: Work one on a block