My curriculum has stem and leaf plots next to box and whisker plots. We talk mostly about how each are different visualizations of the same data, and each communicate very different information about the set.
Stem and Leaf plots are in the AP Statistics curriculum. The reason we would use them is to get a rough idea of what a histogram of the data would look like, if you were to turn it sideways so the leaves went up instead of right.
Reply
Julie
3/16/2014 11:54:46 am
I don't think stem and leaf plots are required in the standards. (Please let me know if I am incorrect). Line plots and box and whiskers are however.
Reply
Chris
6/21/2014 03:37:10 am
I find explaining the purpose of stem and leaf quite easy. Visually represents the distribution of the data and also allows date to be grouped and ordered without losing the values, allowing for more accurate calculation of averages and the range.
If only more people knew about these and how to use them, then we can have simplified transport schedules. See here: http://timothyjefferson.com/2012/06/mini-project-cross-curricular-and-local/