Computer Program for Math Diagrams

[qspeechc]

Hi everyone.

So I'm typing up some notes for some high school kids I'm helping with their math (I'm not tutoring them for money, I'm helping them informally). I want to put diagrams in my notes, you know the usual stuff: graphs of the usual functions; explaining concepts in diagrams; geometry diagrams etc.

Do you know of any programs that can allow me to draw such diagrams, and gives professional-looking results? Publication-worthy diagrams? Any free programs? There's quite a lot of kids I could help, and I don't have the time to be there and draw diagrams for them and explain stuff etc., which is why I'm asking for programs that produce good graphics.
If I'm reeeeaaaally picky, can they be user-friendly too please?

 

[DavidSnider]

Mathematica is fantastic for this. If you are a student you can get it pretty cheap.

 

[qspeechc]

Cool, does it allow you to draw stuff like diagrams from circle geometry, adding arrows, dotted lines, shading, allow you to other types of free-standing drawings etc., as you would find in a precalc textbook?

 

[DavidSnider]

Yep, all that.

It's not "user friendly" in the drag-and-drop sense though.

 

[qspeechc]

Thanks DavidSnider, btw do you happen to know if Maple has the same features? I'm not sure what my university has, I've never used Maple or Mathematica. Oh, and how do I learn to use these programs? Thanks again.

 

[DavidSnider]

Thanks DavidSnider, btw do you happen to know if Maple has the same features? I'm not sure what my university has, I've never used Maple or Mathematica. Oh, and how do I learn to use these programs? Thanks again.

Maple does similar things. I haven't used it much so I can't say for sure.

Mathematica has really good documentation and tutorials on their site.

 

[qspeechc]

Thanks a lot. You've been very patient with me!