statistics · Year 6 · Suggested learning sequence
Stem-and-leaf plots
A stem-and-leaf plot keeps every value in order. The stem on the left is the tens digit and each leaf on the right is a ones digit, so 3 | 4 8 shows 34 and 38. Use the key to check. Each leaf is one value, even when a leaf repeats. The lowest value is the first leaf in the top row and the highest is the last leaf in the bottom row. For the median, count leaves from the start to the middle value.
Sample questions
The stem-and-leaf plot shows the heights of some bean plants in centimetres. Stem | Leaf: 1 | 4 5 8 9; 2 | 2 2 3 5 9; 3 | 2 5 6 7 8 (Key: 1 | 7 means 17). What is the highest height?
- The highest value is in the bottom row, at the end of the leaves.
- Stem 3 and leaf 8 make 38.
- The highest height is 38.
Answer: 38
The stem-and-leaf plot shows the scores in a spelling test. Stem | Leaf: 2 | 2 3 7; 3 | 2 2 3 5 6 7; 4 | 0 2 5 7 8 (Key: 2 | 7 means 27). What is the lowest score?
- The lowest value is in the top row, at the start of the leaves.
- Stem 2 and leaf 2 make 22.
- The lowest score is 22.
Answer: 22
The stem-and-leaf plot shows the heights of some bean plants in centimetres. Stem | Leaf: 4 | 2 5 6 6 7; 5 | 3 3 5 5 7 7; 6 | 6 7 (Key: 4 | 7 means 47). What is the highest height?
- The highest value is in the bottom row, at the end of the leaves.
- Stem 6 and leaf 7 make 67.
- The highest height is 67.
Answer: 67