Default routing setup

I have been RTFM about removing index.php from the URL
The instructions include putting this line in .htaccess
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php/$1 [L]
This did not work for me until I put a slash in front of index.php like this
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php/$1 [L]
Is the manual wrong or is this an alternate configuration? I am using a Linux server with index.php in public_html. I suggest the manual needs updating as people will waste time over this.

Thanks for the share