<P> A stem - and - leaf display or stem - and - leaf plot is a device for presenting quantitative data in a graphical format, similar to a histogram, to assist in visualizing the shape of a distribution . They evolved from Arthur Bowley's work in the early 1900s, and are useful tools in exploratory data analysis . Stemplots became more commonly used in the 1980s after the publication of John Tukey's book on exploratory data analysis in 1977 . The popularity during those years is attributable to their use of monospaced (typewriter) typestyles that allowed computer technology of the time to easily produce the graphics . Modern computers' superior graphic capabilities have meant these techniques are less often used . </P> <P> A stem - and - leaf display is also called a stemplot, but the latter term often refers to another chart type . A simple stem plot may refer to plotting a matrix of y values onto a common x axis, and identifying the common x value with a vertical line, and the individual y values with symbols on the line . </P>

When is a stem and leaf plot used