How to Calculate Stem Leaf Plot
What is Stem Leaf Plot?
A stem-and-leaf plot display tool organises numerical data by splitting each value into a stem (leading digits) and leaf (final digit), making data distribution instantly visible.
Formula
Stem-and-leaf: orders data by place value; shows distribution shape and actual data points
- Stem
- Higher place value (tens, hundreds)
- Leaf
- Lower place value (ones) (digits 0-9)
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Split: 23 → stem 2, leaf 3
- 2Arrange stems in a vertical column
- 3Add leaves beside their stem, in ascending order
- 4Count leaves to find frequencies; find median easily
Worked Examples
Input
Exam scores: 52,55,61,62,68,71,74,78,82,85,91
Result
5|2 5
6|1 2 8
7|1 4 8
8|2 5
9|1
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between stem-and-leaf and stem-leaf-plot?
Same thing, different names. Stem-and-leaf is the standard term.
How do I find the median in a stem-and-leaf plot?
Count total leaves. Find middle value. If n is even, average two middle values.
Can stem-and-leaf plots be back-to-back?
Yes! Compare two groups (e.g., male/female heights). Mirrors stem in centre, leaves on either side.