26. The American Association of Individual Investors conducts an annual survey of discount brokers. The following prices charged are from a sample of 24 discount brokers (AAII Journal, January 2003). The two types of trades are a broker-assisted trade of 100 shares at $50 per share and an online trade of 500 shares at $50 per share.

a. Round the trading prices to the nearest dollar and develop a stem-and-leaf display for 100 shares at $50 per share. Comment on what you learned about broker-assisted trading prices.

b. Round the trading prices to the nearest dollar and develop a stretched stem-and-leaf display for 500 shares online at $50 per share. Comment on what you learned about online trading prices.

Broker $50/Share Broker-Assisted 100 Shares at Online 500 Shares at $50/Share Broker-Assisted 100 Shares at Broker $50/Share Online 500 Shares at $50/Share Accutrade 30.00 29.95 Merrill Lynch Direct 50.00 29.95 Ameritrade 24.99 10.99 Muriel Siebert 45.00 14.95 Banc of America 54.00 24.95 Net Vest 24.00 14.00 Brown & Co. 17.00 5.00 Recom Securities 35.00 12.95 Charles Schwab 55.00 29.95 Scottrade 17.00 7.00 CyberTrader 12.95. 9.95 Sloan Securities 39.95 19.95 E*TRADE Securities 49.95 14.95 Strong Investments 55.00 24.95 First Discount 35.00 19.75 TD Waterhouse 45.00 17.95 Freedom Investments 25.00 15.00 T. Rowe Price 50.00 19.95 Harrisdirect 40.00 20.00 Vanguard 48.00 20.00 Investors National 39.00 62.50 Wall Street Discount 29.95 19.95 MB Trading 9.95 10.55 York Securities 40.00 36.00