Vectors - 3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development - page 37

Figure 2.4. Examples of 2D vectors and their values

2.3.1 Vector as a Sequence of Displacements

One helpful way to think about the displacement described by a vector is
to break out the vector into its axially aligned components. When these
axially aligned displacements are combined, they cumulatively define the
displacement defined by the vector as a whole.
For example, the 3D vector [1,−3,4] represents a single displacement,
but we can visualize this displacement as moving 1 unit to the right, 3 units
down, and then 4 units forward. (Assume our convention that +x, +y,
and +z point right, up, and forward, respectively. Also note that we do

Figure 2.5
Interpreting a vector as a sequence of
displacements