Nothing is wrong with the concept of 99% teachers of physics.

In fact, potential at a point A with respect to a reference point B is

denoted by VAB, and can be defined in *four ways*.
Short:
ext
−W B to A
V AB =
i) q∘

ext
W A to B
V AB =
ii) q∘

e
W B to A
V AB =
iii) q∘

e
−W A to B
V AB =
iv) q∘

Details:
1. VAB is equal to the negative of the minimum work done per unit
charge by an external agent (i-e, an external force) in moving a unit
positive charge from the reference point B to the given point A.
Example: If we take reference point (B) at infinity, then the potential
at a point A lying at a distance r from a source charge q (relative to
the reference point (B) at infinity) is
 V AB =( Potential at point A w .r . t . the reference point B at infinity )
A A A A
kqq

V AB =
−W ext
B to A
=
−∫ F̄ext .d r̄ −∫ (− F̄ e ) .d r̄
B
= B
∫ Fe dr cos180 −∫ r2 ∘
=B =
B
( )dr
q∘ q∘ q∘ q∘ q∘
A rA
1 1 1 1 1 kq
=−kq ∫ r -2 dr =kq
B
[] [
r rB
=kq
r A rB r] [ ]
− =kq −∞ =
r
kq
V AB =V A −V B =
r

2. VAB is equal to the minimum work done per unit charge by an

external agent (i-e, an external force) in moving a unit positive
charge from the given point A to the reference point B.
Example: If we take reference point (B) at infinity, then the potential
at a point A lying at a distance r from a source charge q (relative to
the reference point (B) at infinity) is
V AB =( Potential at point A w .r .t . the reference point B at infinity )
B B B B
kqq

V AB =
W ext
A to B
=
∫ F̄ ext .d r̄ ∫ (− F̄ e ) .d r̄ −∫ F e dr cos180 ∫ r2 ∘
A
=
A
=
A
=
A
( ) dr

q∘ q∘ q∘ q∘ q∘
B rB
1 1 1 1 1 kq
=kq ∫ r -2 dr =−kq
A
[]
r rA
=−kq
[ ] [ ]
− =−kq ∞ − =
rB rA r r
kq
V AB =V A −V B =
r

3. VAB is equal to the minimum work done per unit charge by electric
field in moving a unit positive charge from the reference point B to
the given point A.
Example: If we take reference point (B) at infinity, then the potential
at a point A lying at a distance r from a source charge q (relative to
the reference point (B) at infinity) is
 V AB =( Potential at point A w .r . t . the reference point B at infinity )
A A A
kqq∘

V AB =
W eB to A
∫ F̄ e . d r̄ ∫ F e dr cos180
= B
= B
=
−∫
B
( )
r2
dr

q∘ q∘ q∘ q∘
A rA
1 1 1 1 1 kq
=−kq ∫ r -2 dr =kq
B
[] [
r rB
=kq
] [ ]
− =kq −∞ =
r A rB r r
kq
V AB =V A −V B =
r

4. VAB is equal to the negative of the minimum work done per unit
charge by electric field in moving a unit positive charge from the
given point A to the reference point B.
Example: If we take reference point (B) at infinity, then the potential
at a point A lying at a distance r from a source charge q (relative to
the reference point (B) at infinity) is
V AB =( Potential at point A w .r . t . the reference point B at infinity )
B B B

−W eA to B
−∫ F̄ e . d r̄ −∫ Fe dr cos180 ∫ rkqq
( )2
dr
∘

A A A
V AB = = = =
q∘ q∘ q∘ q∘
B rB
1 1 1 1 1 kq
=kq ∫ r -2 dr =−kq
A
[]
r rA
=−kq
[ ] [ ]
− =−kq ∞ − =
rB rA r r
kq
V AB =V A −V B =
r