What is the purpose of a Stem-and-leaf Display?

The purpose of a Stem-and-leaf Display is to show the rank order and distribution shape of a dataset. This type of graphical representation organizes data points while maintaining the original values, which allows for easy reading and interpretation. The "stem" represents the leading digits, and the "leaf" represents the trailing digits of each data point.

This method is particularly useful because it preserves the actual data values while still providing visual information about the distribution and shape of the data. By arranging the data in this way, one can quickly identify medians, modes, ranges, and the overall frequency distribution, which enhances understanding of how the data behaves without losing granularity.

In contrast, some other techniques may aggregate data or represent it in a way that obscures individual values, which is not the case here. The Stem-and-leaf Display excels in showcasing how values are distributed across a range while clearly presenting their order, making it a powerful tool for data analysis.