Statistics Dictionary
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Stemplot
A stemplot is used to display quantitative data, generally from
small data sets (50 or fewer observations). The stemplot below
shows IQ scores for 30 sixth graders.
Stems
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
Key: 110
|
Leaves
1
2 6
4 5 7 9
1 2 2 2 5 7 9 9
0 2 3 4 4 5 7 8 9 9
1 1 4 7 8
7 represents an IQ score of 117
|
In a stemplot, the entries on the left are called stems; and the entries
on the right are called leaves. In the example above, the stems are
tens (80 and 90) and hundreds (100 through 140). However, they could
be other units - millions, thousands, ones, tenths, etc. In the
example above, the stems and leaves are explicitly labeled for
educational purposes. In the real world, however, stemplots usually do not
include explicit labels for the stems and leaves.
Some stemplots include a key to help the user interpret the display correctly.
The key in the stemplot above indicates that a stem of 110 with a leaf of
7 represents an IQ score of 117.