Stem-and-Leaf Plot Generator
Create clear stem-and-leaf plots from your dataset with customizable options
Tip: Enter your data values separated by commas or spaces (e.g., 12, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 36).
Enter Your Data
Stem-and-Leaf Plot
Original Data:
Processed Data:
Summary Statistics:
Understanding Stem-and-Leaf Plots
What is a Stem-and-Leaf Plot?
A stem-and-leaf plot is a method for organizing quantitative data in a visual way. Each data value is split into a "stem" (the first digit or digits) and a "leaf" (usually the last digit). This plot shows the distribution of data while preserving the original values.
When to Use Stem-and-Leaf Plots
Stem-and-leaf plots are ideal for small to moderate-sized data sets (up to about 150 values). They're particularly useful when you need to:
- Show data distribution shape
- Identify outliers
- See individual data points
- Compare two distributions
Example Stem-and-Leaf Plot
1 | 2 5 8
2 | 0 3 4 7
3 | 1 6
Key: 1 | 2 = 12
This plot represents the numbers: 12, 15, 18, 20, 23, 24, 27, 31, 36
The stems (left of |) represent tens digits, and leaves (right of |) represent ones digits.
How to Create a Stem-and-Leaf Plot
Step-by-Step Guide
- Determine your stems:
Choose what part of the number will be the stem (typically the digits before the last one). For numbers 12-36, stems might be 1, 2, 3 representing 10s.
- List stems vertically:
Create a column with all possible stem values in order, even if some stems have no leaves.
- Add the leaves:
For each data value, add the last digit (leaf) to the right of its stem, separated by a | symbol. Order leaves from smallest to largest.
- Include a key:
Explain what the stems and leaves represent (e.g., "1 | 2 = 12").
Advanced Techniques
- Splitting stems:
For data with too few stems, split each stem into two lines - one for leaves 0-4 and another for 5-9.
- Back-to-back plots:
Create two plots sharing the same stems to compare two data sets.
- Decimal data:
Adjust stem and leaf units to handle decimal numbers (e.g., 12.3 could be stem=12, leaf=3).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of stem-and-leaf plots?
Stem-and-leaf plots preserve the original data values while showing distribution. They're quick to create by hand for small datasets and show both individual values and overall shape. Unlike histograms, you don't lose the exact data points.
When shouldn't I use a stem-and-leaf plot?
Avoid stem-and-leaf plots for very large datasets (more than 150 values) as they become cluttered. Also avoid when you need precise density information or when working with categorical data.
How do I handle negative numbers in stem-and-leaf plots?
Negative numbers can be displayed by using a negative sign with the stem. For example, -2 | 5 would represent -25. Alternatively, you can create a separate section for negative numbers.
What's the difference between stem-and-leaf plots and histograms?
While both show distributions, stem-and-leaf plots preserve the original data values and show exact quantities in each category. Histograms use bars to represent frequency counts in bins, losing individual data points but often working better for large datasets.
Can I create stem-and-leaf plots for decimal numbers?
Yes, you can adjust the stem and leaf units. For example, for 12.3, you could have stem=12 and leaf=3 (showing 12 | 3 with key "12 | 3 = 12.3"), or stem=1 and leaf=23 (showing 1 | 23 with key "1 | 23 = 12.3").