If $x$ is an element of the set $\{ -1, 1, 2 \}$ and $y$ is an element of $\{ -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 \}$, how many distinct values of $x^y$ are positive?
x = 2 ==> every value of x^y is positive {1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4}
x = 1 ==> every value of x^y is positive {1}
x = -1 ==> x^y is positive if y is even {-1, 1}
There are 5 distinct values of x^y: 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4