Plotting vector fields in polar coordinates with inexpensive software

[member 428835]

hey pf!

i have a vector field i would like to plot. it's in polar coordinates. specifically, it's simple like $$v_\theta=r+\theta$$ and $$v_\theta=r^{-1}+\theta$$
i don't have any nice software other than the macbook GRAPHER. can anyone help me or give me advice to an inexpensive package i could use to graph this? ultimately i would like to import the graph into a pdflatex file.

thanks!

josh

 

[gsal]

there must be quite a few you can use, here are some examples:
matplotlib
octave
maxima

 

[member 428835]

have you used all of these? if so, which do you prefer? also, can i import them into pdflatex?

 

[gsal]

I currently use matplotlib. With matplotlib, you can export the figure directly from the figure window into various formats, I typically prefer png, which can them be included into latex.

 

[DrDu]

How about gnuplot?
http://www.gnuplot.info/demo_canvas/vector.html