A Stem and Leaf Plot presents data graphically in order visualize the distribution of the data. The data in a Stem and Leaf Plot falls into one of four plot formations--the bell-shaped curve, the U-shaped curve, the J-shaped plot, and the rectangular. The bell-shaped curve is the most common visualization and is often considered an "ideal" formation of data--especially in relation to academic grade distributions. The U-shaped curve is often two bell-shaped curves together and is an indication that the data could be split into two groups. The J-shaped plot is rare and results because data cannot go above or beyond a certain value. The rectangular occurs because the data is dispersed evenly.
