A good answer might be:
 
The diagram shows sliding up the vector e until its tail touches the head
of d.
The sum is the vector from the tail of d to the head of e .
 
Vector Addition in 3D
 
The diagram shows 3D vectors  a and  b  added to form  c 
(the 3D box is there to aid in visualizing the
three dimensions).
The head-to-tail rule works in 3D as well.
When two vectors are added in 3D,
the head-to-tail rule defines
a triangle oriented in 3D space.