How to Construct a Stem-and-Leaf Plot for Data Analysis

Constructing a stem-and-leaf plot is relatively straightforward. Below are the steps you would typically follow to create one for a set of data:

1. Organize Your Data: Sort your data from smallest to largest values.

2. Identify the Stem: The stem will consist of the beginning digits of each number. How much of the number becomes the stem depends on the data. For example, if you're working with numbers in the tens, the stem could be the digit(s) in the ten's place.

3. Identify the Leaf: The leaf is the last digit of each number. In our tens example, it would be the unit's place.

4. Scale Your Plot: Decide the scale of your plot depending on the data range. Your stems should cover the entire range of your sorted data.

5. Draw the Plot: Place the stems in a vertical line, usually on the left side of the page. For each data point, write its leaf next to the appropriate stem.

6. Order the Leaves: Within each stem, order the leaves from smallest to largest.

7. Title Your Plot: Give your stem-and-leaf plot a title that explains what the data represents.

Here is an example:

Imagine we have the following data set: 44, 46, 51, 53, 55, 62, 64, 67, 68.

Steps 1-6 would result in something like this:

Stem | Leaf ---------------- 4 | 4, 6 5 | 1, 3, 5 6 | 2, 4, 7, 8

This stem-and-leaf plot tells us quickly that we have three data points in the forties (44 and 46), three data points in the fifties (51, 53, and 55), and four data points in the sixties (62, 64, 67, 68).