A stem and leaf display is a handy way to organize and visualize data. It allows you to see the shape of the data distribution while retaining the actual values of the data points.
One of the primary reasons for using a stem and leaf display is its ability to show the data distribution clearly. By separating each data point into a ‘stem’ (which represents the leading digit or digits) and a ‘leaf’ (which represents the trailing digits), you can quickly identify the median, mode, and range of the data.
Additionally, this type of display is particularly effective for smaller datasets. It provides an excellent visual representation that can highlight clusters or gaps in the data, making it easier to analyze than some other forms of data representation like histograms or box plots.
In summary, a stem and leaf display is useful for its clarity, detailed information retention, and ability to visually demonstrate the distribution and characteristics of a dataset efficiently.