UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE LA REGIÓN RIBEREÑA

PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS

ING. GILBERTO ANUAR GARCÍA GARCÍA

UNIT 1, DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

TOPIC: GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF DATA.

1. STEM-AND-LEAF DISPLAY
Consider a numerical data set 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 for which each 𝑥𝑖 consists of at least two
digits. A quick way to obtain an informative visual representation of the data set is to
construct a stem-and-leaf display.
CONSTRUCTING A STEM-AND-LEAF DISPLAY
1. Select one or more leading digits for the stem values. The trailing digits become the leaves.
2. List possible stem values in a vertical column.
3. Record the leaf for each observation beside the corresponding stem value.
4. Indicate the units for stems and leaves someplace in the display.

If the data set consists of exam scores, each between 0 and 100, the score of 83 would
have a stem of 8 and a leaf of 3. For a data set of automobile fuel efficiencies (mpg), all
between 8.1 and 47.8, we could use the tens digit as the stem, so 32.6 would then have a
leaf of 2.6.

A stem-and-leaf display conveys information about the following aspects of the data:
 identification of a typical or representative value
 extent of spread about the typical value
 presence of any gaps in the data
 extent of symmetry in the distribution of values
 number and location of peaks
 presence of any outlying values