Why might a stemplot be preferred over a boxplot for displaying data?

A stemplot is preferred over a boxplot for displaying data primarily because it reveals the shape of the distribution more clearly. Stemplots present individual data points in a way that allows for the visualization of the overall distribution trend, clusters, and any gaps or outliers present. This level of detail helps to capture features of the data that might be obscured in a boxplot, which primarily focuses on five-number summary statistics (minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum) and does not show the actual data values.

In contrast to stemplots, boxplots do not provide as much information about the individual data points and their distribution; they emphasize summary measures over the shape of the data. Therefore, for any analysis requiring a deep understanding of how data is distributed—such as identifying modes or unusual patterns—stemplots offer a significant advantage.