not true, at least for new python versions. a or b is evaluated to a if a is truthy and to b otherwise (doesnt matter the value of b).

now, for ints that are not 0 this expression will always equal a, and b is never checked, since such numbers are truthy. this means, the kata code most likely indeed doesnt work as intended by authors

In fact cannot be smaller than 1, not 0. So should be "<= 0", due if in a test you pass a 0º angle it won't enter to the first condition but give you a result anyway, but an angle can't be 0, this is a line, right?

that's not really necessary, seeing how it was stated that only positive number would be given...

a or b returns the minimum of a,b you can try it out

You're right that this is wrong but (a or b) still can be < 0 because it's a if a != 0 else b.

Um... no.

The construct if (a or b) < 0 will never be True, because (a or b) is parsed as a boolean clause ((a != 0) or (b != 0)) which can only return False (0) or True (1), which can never be < 0.

You meant to write if (a < 0) or (b < 0):.