Example 1: two digit numbers

The data below shows the ages of people at a party.

35,50,37,44,53,41,39,45,48,5635,50,37,44,53,41,39,45,48,56
Draw an ordered stem and leaf diagram for the data. Remember to
include a suitable key.

Ans: Order the numbers from smallest to largest.

35,50,37,44,53,41,39,45,48,5635,50,37,44,53,41,39,45,48,56
becomes
35,37,39,41,44,45,48,50,53,5635,37,39,41,44,45,48,50,53,56
Split the numbers into two parts, the last part must be one digit
only.
The number in our data will split into tens and units so 35 will be 3
and 5 ( 3 represents 30 and 5 is units
Put the values into the diagram and create a key.

Example 2: three digit numbers

The data below shows the length in centimetres of 1313 long jumps
on a year 99 sports day.
153,144,148,140,149,145,144,142,158,135,140,139,160.153,144,148,140,14
9,145,144,142,158,135,140,139,160.

Draw an ordered stem and leaf diagram for the following set of
data. Remember to include a suitable key.
Ans: Order the numbers from smallest to largest.
153,144,148,140,149,145,144,142,158,135,140,139,160.153,144,148,
140,
149,145,144,142,158,135,140,139,160.
becomes
135,139,140,140,142,144,144,145,148,149,153,158,160.135,139,140,
140,142,144,144,145,148,149,153,158,160.

Split the numbers into two parts, the last part must be one digit
only.
The number in our data will be split into two parts, 148 will
become 14 and 8(14 represents 140 and 8 represents 8units).

Example 3: decimal values

A group of students are making model gargoyles out of clay. The
weight of each gargoyle is written below.
1.5 kg 2.3 kg 1.6 kg 3.1 kg 3.1 kg 1.4 kg 2.5 kg 1.7 kg 1.8 kg 2.4 kg

Draw an ordered stem and leaf diagram for data. Remember to

include a suitable key.
Ans: Order the numbers from smallest to largest.
Practice stem and leaf diagram questions
1. Draw a stem and leaf diagram of the following data