Displaying Data in Stem-and-Leaf Plots and Histograms
Organize and display data using stem-and-leaf plots and histograms in Grade 9 math: stems represent leading digits, histograms group continuous data into intervals with adjacent bars.
Key Concepts
New Concept A stem and leaf plot is a data display that uses some digits as "stems" and others as "leaves." What’s next Next, you’ll construct and interpret these plots to find key statistical measures and reveal the hidden story within a set of numbers.
Common Questions
How do you create a stem-and-leaf plot?
Split each data value into a stem (leading digits) and a leaf (final digit). List stems in order in a column, then write each corresponding leaf beside its stem. Include a key explaining the stem-leaf combination.
What is a histogram and how does it differ from a bar graph?
A histogram displays the frequency of continuous numerical data grouped into equal-width intervals (bins). Unlike bar graphs, histogram bars touch each other to show there are no gaps between intervals.
When should you use a stem-and-leaf plot versus a histogram?
Use a stem-and-leaf plot when you have a small data set and want to preserve original values while showing distribution. Use a histogram for larger data sets or when grouping data into ranges is more meaningful than individual values.