 Finite-vector example of Hölder's inequality

Take $p=3$, $q=3/2$, and vectors $x=(1,2,-1)$ and $y=(2,-1,3)$. Their coordinate products are $(2,-2,-3)$, soTheir Lp norms give the larger boundThus cancellation explains $3<7$, and Hölder's inequality explains the remaining gap between $7$ and the norm product. Small signed sums need not imply small individual coordinate products.

Now keep $x$ and choose $y=(1,4,-1)$. The coordinate products are $(1,8,1)$, with no cancellation, andThe matching powers are $|x_i{|}^3=|y_i{|}^{3/2}$, namely $(1,8,1)$.