A stem-and-leaf plot is a type of plot that displays data by splitting up each value in a dataset into a stem and a leaf.
This tutorial explains how to calculate the mean, median, and mode of a stem-and-leaf plot.
Example: Mean, Median & Mode of Stem-and-Leaf Plot
Suppose we have the following stem-and-leaf plot that shows the height of 19 different plants:
Mean:
To find the mean of this dataset, we can add up all of the individual values and divide by the total sample size of 19:
Mean = (11+12+13+26+26+30+31+31+42+45+46+51+52+61+78+82+82+93+94) / 19 = 47.68.
The mean turns out to be 47.68. This is the average value of the dataset.
Median:
To find the median of this dataset, we can write out all of the individual values in order and identify the value that lies directly in the middle:
11, 12, 13, 26, 26, 30, 31, 31, 42, 45, 46, 51, 52, 61, 78, 82, 82, 93, 94
The median turns out to be 45. This is the value located directly in the middle of the dataset.
Mode:
To find the mode of this dataset, we can identify the values that occur most often:
11, 12, 13, 26, 26, 30, 31, 31, 42, 45, 46, 51, 52, 61, 78, 82, 82, 93, 94
This dataset has two modes: 26 and 82. Each of these values occurs twice in the dataset while every other value only occurs once.
Additional Resources
Stem and Leaf Plot Generator
How to Create a Stem-and-Leaf Plot in Excel
How to Create Back to Back Stem-and-Leaf Plots
How to Make a Stem and Leaf Plot with Decimals