Create stem-and-leaf plots

key notes:

What is a Stem-and-Leaf Plot?

• A stem-and-leaf plot is a way to organize data so that it is easy to read and understand.
• It displays data in a way that shows the frequency of data points and allows for quick comparison of values.

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Structure of a Stem-and-Leaf Plot:

1. Stem: The stem represents the leading digit(s) of each number. For example, in the number 42, the “stem” would be 4.
2. Leaf: The leaf represents the trailing digit(s) of each number. For 42, the “leaf” would be 2.

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Steps to Create a Stem-and-Leaf Plot:

1. Sort the Data: Arrange the numbers in order from smallest to largest.
   • Example: 13, 15, 22, 22, 27, 31, 32, 35, 37, 40
2. Create the Stems: Write down the first digit of each number as the “stem.”
   • Example: For numbers 13, 15, 22, 22, 27, 31, 32, 35, 37, and 40, the stems would be 1, 2, 3, and 4.
3. Add the Leaves: Write the second digit of each number next to the appropriate stem.
   • Example:
     • 13 → 1 | 3
     • 15 → 1 | 5
     • 22 → 2 | 2
     • 27 → 2 | 7
     • 31 → 3 | 1
     • 32 → 3 | 2
     • 35 → 3 | 5
     • 37 → 3 | 7
     • 40 → 4 | 0
4. Make a Key: Create a key to explain the plot.
   • Example: “1 | 3 means 13.”

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Example:

Key: 1 | 3 means 13

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Benefits of a Stem-and-Leaf Plot:

• Helps students see the distribution of data.
• Allows for easy identification of the median and mode.
• Helps students understand how data is spread across intervals.

Learn with an example

Let’s practice!🖊️