A stem and leaf is a table used to display data. The 'stem' is on the left displays the first digit or digits. The 'leaf' is on the right and displays the last digit. For example, 543 and 548 can be displayed together on a stem and leaf as 54 | 3,8.

What do stem and leaf plots show?

Stem-and-leaf plots are a method for showing the frequency with which certain classes of values occur. You could make a frequency distribution table or a histogram for the values, or you can use a stem-and-leaf plot and let the numbers themselves to show pretty much the same information.

What is a stem and leaf display best used for?

Stem-and-leaf displays are useful for displaying the relative density and shape of data, giving the reader a quick overview of distribution. They retain (most of) the raw numerical data, often with perfect integrity. They are also useful for highlighting outliers and finding the mode.