Stem And Leaf Plot - Meaning, Construction, Splitting & Examples

Stem and Leaf Plot

A stem and leaf plot is a unique table where values of data are split into a stem and leaf. The first digit or digits will be written in stem and the last digit will be written in leaf. Let us learn more about this interesting

1.	What is Stem and Leaf Plot?
2.	How to Read Stem and Leaf Plot?
3.	How to Split a Stem and Leaf Plot?
4.	How to Construct Stem and Leaf Plot?
5.	FAQs on Stem and Leaf Plot

What is Stem and Leaf Plot?

A stem and leaf plot also called a stem and leaf diagram is a way of organizing data into a form that makes it easy to observe the frequency of different types of values. It is a graph that shows numerical data arranged in order. Each data value is broken into a stem and a leaf. Astem and leaf plot is represented in form of a special table where each first digit or digit of data value is split into a stem and the last digit of data in a leaf. This " | " symbol is used to show stem values and leaf values and it is called as stem and leaf plot key. For example, 46 is represented as 4 on the stem and 6 on the leaf and shown using stem and leaf plot key like this 4 I 6.

In the image given below, the stem values are listed one below the other in ascending order and the leaf values are listed left to right from the stem values in ascending order. As the stem and leaf plot definition states, 6 I 7 ⇒ 6 on the stem and 7 on the leaf read as 67. 6 I 8 ⇒ 6 on the stem and 8 on the leaf read as 68. 9 I 0 ⇒ 9 on the stem and 0 on the leaf read as 90. 9 I 1 ⇒ 9 on the stem and 1 on the leaf read as 91. 9 I 8 ⇒ 9 on the stem and 8 on the leaf read as 98.

Stem and Leaf Plot With Decimals

We can use stem and leaf plots with decimals the same way we use for whole numbers. The stem and leaf plot key (" | ") helps us understand how the data is organized on the stem and leaf plot with decimals. For example, stem and leaf plot key 4 I 2 is 4.2. 4 on the stem and 2 on the leaf read as 4.2. The decimal part will show on the leaf side.

Stem and Leaf Plot Statistics

Finding the mean, median, and mode are a part of stem and leaf plot statistics. Let's understand with help of an example. Consider the following stem and leaf plot worksheet which shows 5 data values.

Stem	Leaf
2	0
3	2 2 5
4	1

The data values are already in ascending order. They are 20, 32, 32, 35 and 41

Mean of the data = Sum of data values ÷ Total number of values = (20 + 32 + 32 + 35 + 41) ÷ 5 = 160 ÷ 5 = 32. Mean = 32

Mode is the data value that frequently appears. Mode = 32

Median = The middle value of the data. Median = 32

Thus, calculating the stem and leaf plot statistics is very easy.

How to Read Stem and Leaf Plot?

The stem and leaf plot key helps us understand the data values. The stem is on the left and the leaf is on the right. If you combine the values of the stem and the leaves, you will get the data values. Let us interpret the following data after studying the stem and leaf plot.

Stem	Leaf
0	2 6 8
1	5 7
2	5 9

(a) What are the leaf numbers for stem 2?

Observe the stem and leaf plot table. Look at the stem column on the left and locate stem 2. Then find the corresponding leaves on the right. The leaf numbers are 5 and 9.

(b) What are the data values for stem 2?

Observe the stem and leaf plot table. Identify the data values. The stem 2 means 20 and the leaf means 5 and 9. Combining the values of the stem and the leaves, we get the data values 25 and 29.

(c) What are the data values for stem 0?

The numbers on the leaves against the value 0 on the stem are 2, 6, and 8. Thus, the data values are 2, 6, and 8.

(d) List the data values greater than 15.

From stem value 1, we get the data values 15 and 17. From stem value 2, we get the data values 25 and 29. Hence, the data values greater than 15 are 17, 25, and 29.

How to Split a Stem and Leaf Plot?

The split stem and leaf plot separates each stem into many stems based on its frequency. We place the smaller leaves on the first part of the split stem and the larger leaves on the subsequent stems.

For example, let's consider a set of data that includes the scores of 7 students in their math test.

78, 82, 82, 90, 94, 81, 72 Data in ascending order 72, 78, 81, 82, 82, 90, 94

Stem and Leaf Plot:

Stem	Leaf
7	2 8
8	1 2 2
9	0 4

Split Stem And Leaf Plot

Stem	Leaf
7	2
7	8
8	1
8	2
8	2
9	0
9	4

Thus, the split stem and leaf plot is an ordinary stem and leaf plot with each instance of the stem-leaf shown separately. It represents the stem section as many entries like how it appears in the data values.

How to Construct Stem and Leaf Plot?

Follow the steps for constructing a stem and leaf plot.

• Step 1: Look at the data and find the number of digits. Classify them as 2 or 3 digit numbers.
• Step 2: Fix the stem and leaf plot key. For example, 3 I 5 = 35, and 15 I 2 is 152.
• Step 3: Identify the first digits as stems and the last digit as leaves.
• Step 4: Determine the range of the data, i.e. the lowest and the highest values among the data.
• Step 5: Draw a vertical line. Place the stem on the left column and the leaf on the right column.
• Step 6: List the stems in the stems column. Arrange it in ascending order starting from the lowest to the top.
• Step 7: Plot the leaves in the column against the stem from lowest to the highest horizontally.

Important Notes

Given below are some important notes related to stem and leaf plots. Have a look!

• If we plot data using stem and leaf and place it alongside the new data, we might be able to see a correlation between both the data and the frequency distribution of data.
• The stem and leaf plot key for three-digit numbers is represented as two digits in the stem and one digit in the leaf. For example, 45 | 6 = 456
• The mean, median, and mode of the given data can easily be calculated using stem and leaf plots.

Related Articles on Stem and Leaf Plot

Check out these interesting articles to know more about stem and leaf plot and its related topics.

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• Dot Plot
• Data Collection Methods
• Statistics