Create stem-and-leaf plots
key notes:
📊 What is a Stem-and-Leaf Plot?
- A way to organize numbers so you can see patterns easily.
- The stem = all digits except the last one.
- The leaf = the last digit of the number.
🌈 Parts of a Stem-and-Leaf Plot
Stem (Left side): Tens, hundreds, etc.
Leaf (Right side): Ones digit.
Example:
- Number: 43 → Stem = 4, Leaf = 3
- Number: 57 → Stem = 5, Leaf = 7
📝 Steps to Make a Stem-and-Leaf Plot
- Sort numbers from smallest to largest.
- Split each number into stem and leaf.
- List stems in a column (smallest on top).
- Write leaves next to the correct stem, in order.
- Check that all numbers are included.
🎨 Example:
Numbers: 12, 15, 17, 22, 24 Stem | Leaf 1 | 2 5 7 2 | 2 4
✅ Tips for Students:
- Always sort the leaves in order for clarity.
- Each number appears once.
- Helps to see the highest and lowest numbers quickly.
- Great for finding the mode (the leaf that appears most often).
🎉 Fun Emoji Memory Trick:
- 🌳 Stem = tree trunk
- 🍃 Leaf = leaves on the tree
- Put the leaves on the correct tree trunk!
Learn with an example
1) A toy store employee counted the number of toys in each bin in the sale section.
Toys per bin
10 23 26 27 34 36 39 45 46 51 53 54 60 60 64 68 71 76
Use the data to complete the stem-and-leaf plot.
| Toys per bin | |
| Stem | Leaf |
| 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 367 |
| 3 | 469 |
| 4 | |
| 5 | 134 |
| 6 | 0048 |
| 7 | 16 |
- The stem in the missing row is 4.
- Write the leaves 5 and 6 in this row to represent the numbers 45 and 46.
| Toys per bin | |
| Stem | Leaf |
| 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 367 |
| 3 | 469 |
| 4 | 56 |
| 5 | 134 |
| 6 | 0048 |
| 7 | 16 |
2) The film critic liked to count the number of actors in each film he saw.
Actors per film
51 53 56 58 62 68 69 70 71 73 73 78 87 91 92 97
Use the data to complete the stem-and-leaf plot
| Actors per film | |
| Stem | Leaf |
| 5 | 1368 |
| 6 | |
| 7 | 01338 |
| 8 | 7 |
| 9 | 127 |
- The stem in the missing row is 6.
- Write the leaves 2, 8, and 9 in this row to represent the numbers 62, 68, and 69.
| Actors per film | |
| Stem | Leaf |
| 5 | 1368 |
| 6 | 289 |
| 7 | 01338 |
| 8 | 7 |
| 9 | 127 |
3) A real estate agent counted the number of offices per floor in the building he was selling.
Offices per floor
26 30 31 34 37 45 50 57 59 65 78 81 87 96 98
Use the data to complete the stem-and-leaf plot.
| Offices per floor | |
| Stem | Leaf |
| 2 | 6 |
| 3 | 0147 |
| 4 | 5 |
| 5 | |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 8 |
| 8 | 17 |
| 9 | 68 |
- The stem in the missing row is 5.
- Write the leaves 0, 7, and 9 in this row to represent the numbers 50, 57, and 59.
| Offices per floor | |
| Stem | Leaf |
| 2 | 6 |
| 3 | 0147 |
| 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 079 |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 8 |
| 8 | 17 |
| 9 | 68 |
Let’s practice!🖊️
