What Is a Stem & Leaf Line in Math?

Organization

• Gather all the latest test results from a class. Arrange the test scores in numerical order from the lowest to highest score. If there are identical scores, make sure you list each occurrence of the score separately as it is important you account for every score. You are now ready to prepare the stem and leaf line.

Identifying Stems

• Numbers consist of digits. For example "64" is a combination of the digit 6 and the digit 4. A more complex number like "287" combines the digits 2, 8 and 7. Preparation of a stem and leaf line requires identifying the stems. Here is the simple way: Drop the last digit of the number and the remaining numbers represent the stem.

Identifying Leaves

• Remove the digits that are stems and the remainder are leaves. A simple way is to identify the last digit; it is the leaf. Another way of expressing a leaf is that it represents the ones. Remember to identify all of the leaves in duplicate numbers; two 74s produce two 4s as leaves.

Drawing Line

• A stem and leaf line is a type of histogram. This is a mathematical means of identifying the frequency of numbers in a series. Instead of a bar graph, the stem and leaf line appears in line form which aids the reader. Preparation of the stem and leaf line begins with the drawing of a vertical line. Stems go on the left and the corresponding leaves on the right. For single digit numbers like 6 the stem is 0 and the leaf 6. Each stem has a separate horizontal line with many leaves on its line. The stem 6 could have a leaf for every number from 0 to 9 if those numbers are in the sequence being plotted.