If you're working with data sets, you may have come across the stem and leaf plot, a statistical tool used to visualize data distribution. While creating a stem and leaf plot can seem daunting, it's quite simple if you use the right software. In this article, we'll show you how to create a stem and leaf plot in Excel using WPS Office.
How to Create a Stem and Leaf Plot in Excel with WPS Office Spreadsheet
Step 1: Enter Your Data
The first step in creating a stem and leaf plot is to enter your data into an Excel spreadsheet. Sort your data in ascending order. Let’s a sample set of numbers to make it easier for you to understand
15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36
Step 2: Create a Table
Next, create a table in Excel with two columns. The first column will be for the stem values and the second for the leaf values. Enter the stem values in the first column and leave the second column blank for now.
Step 3: Enter the Leaf Values
In the second column of the table, enter the leaf values for each data point. For example, if the stem is 2 and the data point is 23, enter 3 in the second column. Repeat this process for all the data points.
Step 4: Sort the Data
Once all the leaf values are entered, sort the data by the stem values. It will group all the leaf values that have the same stem together.
Step 5: Add in Leaf Position
Now, you can use the following formula to find out the leaf position:
=COUNTIF($E$2:E2,E2)
E is the Stem Column; you can change that to your own excel sheet.
Step 6: Create the Stem and Leaf Plot
To create a stem and leaf plot in Excel, follow these steps:
Select the range of cells that contain Stem and Leaf Position.
Click the "Insert" tab in the ribbon menu.
In the "Charts" section, click the XY Scatter Diagram.
Right-click on the chart and go to “Select Data.”
Click Edit and include Leaf Position as Series X and Stem as Series Y values.
Click on the X-axis and Select Format Axis.
Change the Maximum value to 3, as 36 is the maximum number, and change the Minor value.
Tick the “Values in reverse order” check box.
Here is your Stem and Leaf Plot.
Step 7: Save and Share
Once you've created and formatted your stem and leaf plot, you can save it as an Excel file or export it as an image to share with others. To save your file, click the "File" tab in the ribbon menu and select "Save." To export your plot as an image, right-click on the chart and select "Save as Picture."
How to Create a Stem and Leaf Plot in Excel with MS Excel
MS Excel is another popular spreadsheet software that can be used to create stem and leaf plots. Creating a stem and leaf plot in MS Excel slightly differs from that of the WPS Office Spreadsheet. The steps to create Stem and Leaf Plot are similar with few differences from WPS Office.
Step 1: Enter your data in a column in the spreadsheet and sort your data according to the previous method in Stem, Leaf, and Leaf Position
Step 2: Select the data range for the stem and leaf plot.
Step 3: Click the Insert tab, then the Scatter Chart button, and select the Scatter with Smooth Lines and Markers option.
Step 4: Right-click on the chart and select Select Data.
Step 5: Click on the Add button to add a new series.
Step 6: In the Edit Series dialog box, enter a name for the series and select the data range for the stem and leaf plot.
Step 7: Click on the OK button to close the Edit Series dialog box.
Step 8: Right-click on the horizontal axis and select Format Axis.
Step 9: In the Format Axis dialog box, select the Fixed option under the Axis Type section and set the major unit to 1.
Step 10: Click on the OK button to close the Format Axis dialog box.
Your stem and leaf plot should now be visible on the spreadsheet.
How to Change the Color/Data of a Stem and Leaf Plot in Excel
Once you have created your stem and leaf plot, you may want to change the color or data in the plot. Here's how to do that:
To change the color: Right-click on the chart and select "Format Data Series." You can change the fill color, border color, and other settings to your liking.
To change the data: Simply change the values in the data column of your spreadsheet. The stem and leaf plot will update automatically to reflect the changes. You don’t need to delete anything to update the Stem and Leaf Plot, just change the data in the table, and it will be updated automatically. Some people tend to remove the Stem and Leaf Plot and create a new one which is unnecessary.
Putting it All Together
In conclusion, creating a stem and leaf plot in Excel is a straightforward process that can help visualize the distribution of a dataset. The stem represents the highest place value digits, while the leaf represents the remaining digits. The leaf's position can be adjusted to highlight certain aspects of the data, such as the frequency of certain values.
WPS Office is a great option for those seeking an alternative to Excel. It offers many of the same features as Excel, including the ability to create stem and leaf plots and XY scatter diagrams while also providing a user-friendly interface and compatibility with other office software.
