passagemath-combinat 10.6.42__cp314-cp314-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl

sage/combinat/alternating_sign_matrix.py

@@ -0,0 +1,2063 @@
+# sage_setup: distribution = sagemath-combinat
+# sage.doctest: needs sage.combinat sage.modules
+r"""
+Alternating sign matrices
+
+AUTHORS:
+
+- Mike Hansen (2007): Initial version
+- Pierre Cange, Luis Serrano (2012): Added monotone triangles
+- Travis Scrimshaw (2013-28-03): Added element class for ASM's and made
+  :class:`MonotoneTriangles` inherit from :class:`GelfandTsetlinPatterns`
+- Jessica Striker (2013): Added additional methods
+- Vincent Delecroix (2017): cleaning
+"""
+# ****************************************************************************
+#       Copyright (C) 2007 Mike Hansen <mhansen@gmail.com>,
+#                     2012 Pierre Cagne <pierre.cagne@ens.fr>,
+#                          Luis Serrano <luisgui.serrano@gmail.com>
+#                     2013 Travis Scrimshaw <tscrim@ucdavis.edu>
+#                     2013 Jessica Striker <jessicapalencia@gmail.com>
+#                     2017 Vincent Delecroix <20100.delecroix@gmail.com>
+#
+#  Distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL)
+#
+#    This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+#    WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+#    General Public License for more details.
+#
+#  The full text of the GPL is available at:
+#
+#                  https://www.gnu.org/licenses/
+# ****************************************************************************
+
+import copy
+from sage.misc.classcall_metaclass import ClasscallMetaclass
+from sage.misc.inherit_comparison import InheritComparisonClasscallMetaclass
+from sage.misc.flatten import flatten
+from sage.misc.misc_c import prod
+from sage.structure.unique_representation import UniqueRepresentation
+from sage.structure.parent import Parent
+from sage.structure.element import Element
+from sage.structure.richcmp import richcmp
+from sage.categories.finite_enumerated_sets import FiniteEnumeratedSets
+from sage.matrix.matrix_space import MatrixSpace
+from sage.matrix.constructor import matrix
+from sage.modules.free_module_element import zero_vector
+from sage.misc.cachefunc import cached_method
+from sage.misc.lazy_import import lazy_import
+from sage.rings.integer_ring import ZZ
+from sage.arith.misc import factorial
+from sage.rings.integer import Integer
+from sage.combinat.gelfand_tsetlin_patterns import GelfandTsetlinPatternsTopRow
+from sage.combinat.combinatorial_map import combinatorial_map
+from sage.combinat.non_decreasing_parking_function import NonDecreasingParkingFunction
+from sage.combinat.permutation import Permutation
+from sage.combinat.six_vertex_model import SquareIceModel
+
+lazy_import('sage.combinat.posets.lattices', 'LatticePoset')
+
+
+def _inplace_height_function_gyration(hf):
+    k = hf.nrows() - 1
+    for i in range(1,k):
+        for j in range(1,k):
+            if (i+j) % 2 == 0 \
+                    and hf[i-1,j] == hf[i+1,j] == hf[i,j+1] == hf[i,j-1]:
+                if hf[i,j] < hf[i+1,j]:
+                    hf[i,j] += 2
+                else:
+                    hf[i,j] -= 2
+    for i in range(1,k):
+        for j in range(1,k):
+            if (i+j) % 2 == 1 \
+                    and hf[i-1,j] == hf[i+1,j] == hf[i,j+1] == hf[i,j-1]:
+                if hf[i,j] < hf[i+1,j]:
+                    hf[i,j] += 2
+                else:
+                    hf[i,j] -= 2
+
+
+class AlternatingSignMatrix(Element,
+        metaclass=InheritComparisonClasscallMetaclass):
+    r"""
+    An alternating sign matrix.
+
+    An alternating sign matrix is a square matrix of `0`'s, `1`'s and `-1`'s
+    such that the sum of each row and column is `1` and the nonzero
+    entries in each row and column alternate in sign.
+
+    These were introduced in [MRR1983]_.
+    """
+    @staticmethod
+    def __classcall_private__(cls, asm, check=True):
+        """
+        Create an ASM.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrix([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrix([[0, 1, 0],[1, -1, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            [ 0  1  0]
+            [ 1 -1  1]
+            [ 0  1  0]
+
+        TESTS:
+
+        Check that :issue:`22032` is fixed::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrix([])
+            []
+
+        Check dimension 1::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrix([1])
+            [1]
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrix([-1])
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            ValueError: invalid alternating sign matrix
+        """
+        asm = matrix(ZZ, asm)
+        if not asm.is_square():
+            raise ValueError("the alternating sign matrices must be square")
+        return AlternatingSignMatrices(asm.nrows())(asm, check=check)
+
+    def __init__(self, parent, asm):
+        """
+        Initialize ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: elt = A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            sage: TestSuite(elt).run()
+        """
+        self._matrix = asm
+        Element.__init__(self, parent)
+
+    def __hash__(self):
+        r"""
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: elt = A([[1, 0, 0], [0, 1, 0], [0, 0, 1]])
+            sage: hash(elt)
+            1
+        """
+        return hash(self._matrix)
+
+    def _repr_(self):
+        """
+        Return a string representation of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+        """
+        return repr(self._matrix)
+
+    def _unicode_art_(self):
+        """
+        Unicode art representation of ``self``.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: M = A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            sage: M._unicode_art_()
+            ⎛1 0 0⎞
+            ⎜0 1 0⎟
+            ⎝0 0 1⎠
+        """
+        return self._matrix._unicode_art_()
+
+    def _richcmp_(self, other, op):
+        """
+        Do the comparison.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: M = A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            sage: M == A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            True
+            sage: M == A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 0, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            False
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: M = A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            sage: M != A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            False
+            sage: M != A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 0, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            True
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: M = A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            sage: M <= A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            True
+            sage: M <= A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 0, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            False
+        """
+        return richcmp(self._matrix, other._matrix, op)
+
+    def _latex_(self):
+        r"""
+        Return a `\LaTeX` representation of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: latex(A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]))
+            \left(\begin{array}{rrr}
+            1 & 0 & 0 \\
+            0 & 1 & 0 \\
+            0 & 0 & 1
+            \end{array}\right)
+        """
+        return self._matrix._latex_()
+
+    def to_matrix(self):
+        """
+        Return ``self`` as a regular matrix.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: asm = A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]])
+            sage: m = asm.to_matrix(); m
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            sage: m.parent()
+            Full MatrixSpace of 3 by 3 dense matrices over Integer Ring
+        """
+        return copy.copy(self._matrix)
+
+    @combinatorial_map(name='to monotone triangle')
+    def to_monotone_triangle(self):
+        r"""
+        Return a monotone triangle from ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).to_monotone_triangle()
+            [[3, 2, 1], [2, 1], [1]]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 1, 0],[1, -1, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.to_monotone_triangle()
+            [[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [2]]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 0, 1],[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.to_monotone_triangle()
+            [[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [3]]
+            sage: A.from_monotone_triangle(asm.to_monotone_triangle()) == asm
+            True
+        """
+        n = self._matrix.nrows()
+        triangle = [0] * n
+        add_row = zero_vector(ZZ, n)
+        for j, row in enumerate(self._matrix):
+            add_row = row + add_row
+            triangle[n - 1 - j] = [i + 1 for i in range(n - 1, -1, -1)
+                                   if add_row[i] == 1]
+        return MonotoneTriangles(n)(triangle)
+
+    @combinatorial_map(name='rotate counterclockwise')
+    def rotate_ccw(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the counterclockwise quarter turn rotation of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).rotate_ccw()
+            [0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [1 0 0]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 0, 1],[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.rotate_ccw()
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0]
+        """
+        li = list(self._matrix.transpose())
+        li.reverse()
+        return AlternatingSignMatrix(li)
+
+    def inversion_number(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the inversion number of ``self``.
+
+        If we denote the entries of the alternating sign matrix as `a_{i,j}`,
+        the inversion number is defined as `\sum_{i>k}\sum_{j<l}a_{i,j}a_{k,l}`.
+        When restricted to permutation matrices, this gives the usual inversion
+        number of the permutation.
+
+        This definition is equivalent to the one given in [MRR1983]_.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).inversion_number()
+            0
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 0, 1],[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.inversion_number()
+            2
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 1, 0],[1, -1, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.inversion_number()
+            2
+            sage: P = Permutations(5)
+            sage: all(p.number_of_inversions()==AlternatingSignMatrix(p.to_matrix()).inversion_number() for p in P)
+            True
+        """
+        inversion_num = 0
+        asm_matrix = self.to_matrix()
+        nonzero_cells = asm_matrix.nonzero_positions()
+        for (i, j) in nonzero_cells:
+            for (k, l) in nonzero_cells:
+                if i > k and j < l:
+                    inversion_num += asm_matrix[i][j] * asm_matrix[k][l]
+        return inversion_num
+
+    @combinatorial_map(name='rotate clockwise')
+    def rotate_cw(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the clockwise quarter turn rotation of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).rotate_cw()
+            [0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [1 0 0]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 0, 1],[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.rotate_cw()
+            [0 1 0]
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+        """
+        li = list(self._matrix.transpose())
+        li.reverse()
+        return AlternatingSignMatrix(matrix(li).transpose().antitranspose())
+
+    @combinatorial_map(name='transpose')
+    def transpose(self):
+        r"""
+        Return ``self`` transposed.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).transpose()
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 0, 1],[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.transpose()
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            [1 0 0]
+        """
+        return AlternatingSignMatrix(self._matrix.transpose())
+
+    def corner_sum_matrix(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the corner sum matrix of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).corner_sum_matrix()
+            [0 0 0 0]
+            [0 1 1 1]
+            [0 1 2 2]
+            [0 1 2 3]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 1, 0],[1, -1, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.corner_sum_matrix()
+            [0 0 0 0]
+            [0 0 1 1]
+            [0 1 1 2]
+            [0 1 2 3]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 0, 1],[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.corner_sum_matrix()
+            [0 0 0 0]
+            [0 0 0 1]
+            [0 1 1 2]
+            [0 1 2 3]
+
+        TESTS:
+
+        Some non-symmetric tests::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 1, 0], [0, 0, 1], [1, 0, 0]])
+            sage: asm.corner_sum_matrix()
+            [0 0 0 0]
+            [0 0 1 1]
+            [0 0 1 2]
+            [0 1 2 3]
+            sage: B = AlternatingSignMatrices(4)
+            sage: asm = B([[0, 0, 1, 0], [1, 0, 0, 0], [0, 1, -1, 1], [0, 0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.corner_sum_matrix()
+            [0 0 0 0 0]
+            [0 0 0 1 1]
+            [0 1 1 2 2]
+            [0 1 2 2 3]
+            [0 1 2 3 4]
+        """
+        asm = self._matrix
+        n = asm.nrows()
+        ans = matrix(ZZ, n + 1)
+        col_sum = [ZZ.zero()] * n
+        for i in range(n):
+            for j in range(n):
+                col_sum[j] += asm[i, j]
+                ans[i + 1, j + 1] = ans[i + 1, j] + col_sum[j]
+        return ans
+
+    def height_function(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the height function from ``self``.
+
+        A height function
+        corresponding to an `n \times n` ASM is an `(n+1) \times (n+1)` matrix
+        such that the first row is `0, 1, \ldots, n`, the last row is
+        `n, n-1, \ldots, 1, 0`, and the difference between adjacent entries
+        is 1.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).height_function()
+            [0 1 2 3]
+            [1 0 1 2]
+            [2 1 0 1]
+            [3 2 1 0]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 1, 0],[1, -1, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.height_function()
+            [0 1 2 3]
+            [1 2 1 2]
+            [2 1 2 1]
+            [3 2 1 0]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 0, 1],[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.height_function()
+            [0 1 2 3]
+            [1 2 1 2]
+            [2 3 2 1]
+            [3 2 1 0]
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(4)
+            sage: all(A.from_height_function(a.height_function()) == a for a in A)
+            True
+        """
+        asm = self._matrix
+        n = asm.nrows()
+        ans = matrix(ZZ, n + 1)
+        for i in range(1, n + 1):
+            ans[0, i] = ans[i, 0] = i
+        col_sum = [ZZ.zero()] * n
+        for i in range(n):
+            for j in range(n):
+                col_sum[j] += asm[i, j]
+                ans[j+1, i+1] = ans[j, i+1] + 1 - 2 * col_sum[j]
+        return ans
+
+    def to_six_vertex_model(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the six vertex model configuration from ``self``.
+
+        This method calls :meth:`sage.combinat.six_vertex_model.from_alternating_sign_matrix`.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: asm = AlternatingSignMatrix([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]])
+            sage: asm.to_six_vertex_model()
+                ^    ^    ^
+                |    |    |
+            --> # -> # <- # <--
+                ^    |    ^
+                |    V    |
+            --> # <- # -> # <--
+                |    ^    |
+                V    |    V
+            --> # -> # <- # <--
+                |    |    |
+                V    V    V
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: ASM = AlternatingSignMatrices(5)
+            sage: all((x.to_six_vertex_model()).to_alternating_sign_matrix() == x
+            ....:     for x in ASM)
+            True
+        """
+        asm = self.to_matrix()
+        n = asm.nrows()
+        M = SquareIceModel(n)
+        return M.from_alternating_sign_matrix(self)
+
+    def to_fully_packed_loop(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the fully packed loop configuration from ``self``.
+
+        .. SEEALSO::
+
+            :class:`FullyPackedLoop`
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: asm = AlternatingSignMatrix([[1,0,0],[0,1,0],[0,0,1]])
+            sage: fpl = asm.to_fully_packed_loop()
+            sage: fpl
+                │         │
+                │         │
+                +    + ── +
+                │    │
+                │    │
+             ── +    +    + ──
+                     │    │
+                     │    │
+                + ── +    +
+                │         │
+                │         │
+        """
+        from sage.combinat.fully_packed_loop import FullyPackedLoop
+        return FullyPackedLoop(self)
+
+    def link_pattern(self):
+        """
+        Return the link pattern corresponding to the fully packed loop
+        corresponding to ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES:
+
+        We can extract the underlying link pattern (a non-crossing
+        partition) from a fully packed loop::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrix([[0, 1, 0], [1, -1, 1], [0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: A.link_pattern()
+            [(1, 2), (3, 6), (4, 5)]
+
+            sage: B = AlternatingSignMatrix([[1, 0, 0], [0, 1, 0], [0, 0, 1]])
+            sage: B.link_pattern()
+            [(1, 6), (2, 5), (3, 4)]
+        """
+        return self.to_fully_packed_loop().link_pattern()
+
+    @combinatorial_map(name='gyration')
+    def gyration(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the alternating sign matrix obtained by applying gyration
+        to the height function in bijection with ``self``.
+
+        Gyration acts on height functions as follows. Go through the entries of
+        the matrix, first those for which the sum of the row and column indices
+        is even, then for those for which it is odd, and increment or decrement
+        the squares by 2 wherever possible such that the resulting matrix is
+        still a height function. Gyration was first defined in [Wie2000]_ as
+        an action on fully-packed loops.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).gyration()
+            [0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [1 0 0]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 1, 0],[1, -1, 1],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.gyration()
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            sage: asm = A([[0, 0, 1],[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0]])
+            sage: asm.gyration()
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            [1 0 0]
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).gyration().gyration()
+            [ 0  1  0]
+            [ 1 -1  1]
+            [ 0  1  0]
+            sage: A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]).gyration().gyration().gyration()
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(4)
+            sage: M = A([[0,0,1,0],[1,0,0,0],[0,1,-1,1],[0,0,1,0]])
+            sage: for i in range(5):
+            ....:     M = M.gyration()
+            sage: M
+            [1 0 0 0]
+            [0 0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0 0]
+            [0 0 1 0]
+
+            sage: a0 = a = AlternatingSignMatrices(5).random_element()
+            sage: for i in range(20):
+            ....:     a = a.gyration()
+            sage: a == a0
+            True
+        """
+        hf = self.height_function()
+        _inplace_height_function_gyration(hf)
+        return self.parent().from_height_function(hf)
+
+    def gyration_orbit(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the gyration orbit of ``self`` (including ``self``).
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrix([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]]).gyration_orbit()
+            [
+            [ 0  1  0]  [1 0 0]  [0 0 1]
+            [ 1 -1  1]  [0 1 0]  [0 1 0]
+            [ 0  1  0], [0 0 1], [1 0 0]
+            ]
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrix([[0,1,0,0],[1,-1,1,0],[0,1,-1,1],[0,0,1,0]]).gyration_orbit()
+            [
+            [ 0  1  0  0]  [1 0 0 0]  [ 0  0  1  0]  [0 0 0 1]
+            [ 1 -1  1  0]  [0 1 0 0]  [ 0  1 -1  1]  [0 0 1 0]
+            [ 0  1 -1  1]  [0 0 1 0]  [ 1 -1  1  0]  [0 1 0 0]
+            [ 0  0  1  0], [0 0 0 1], [ 0  1  0  0], [1 0 0 0]
+            ]
+
+            sage: len(AlternatingSignMatrix([[0,1,0,0,0,0],[0,0,1,0,0,0],[1,-1,0,0,0,1],
+            ....: [0,1,0,0,0,0],[0,0,0,1,0,0],[0,0,0,0,1,0]]).gyration_orbit())
+            12
+        """
+        hf = self.height_function()
+
+        cyc = [hf.__copy__()]
+        cyc[-1].set_immutable()
+
+        _inplace_height_function_gyration(hf)
+
+        while hf != cyc[0]:
+            cyc.append(hf.__copy__())
+            cyc[-1].set_immutable()
+            _inplace_height_function_gyration(hf)
+
+        P = self.parent()
+        return [P.from_height_function(hfun) for hfun in cyc]
+
+    def ASM_compatible(self, B):
+        r"""
+        Return ``True`` if ``self`` and ``B`` are compatible alternating sign
+        matrices in the sense of [EKLP1992]_. (If ``self`` is of size `n`, ``B``
+        must  be of size `n+1`.)
+
+        In [EKLP1992]_, there is a notion of a pair of ASM's with sizes differing
+        by 1 being compatible, in the sense that they can be combined to encode
+        a tiling of the Aztec Diamond.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrix(matrix([[0,0,1,0],[0,1,-1,1],[1,0,0,0],[0,0,1,0]]))
+            sage: B = AlternatingSignMatrix(matrix([[0,0,1,0,0],[0,0,0,1,0],[1,0,0,-1,1],[0,1,0,0,0],[0,0,0,1,0]]))
+            sage: A.ASM_compatible(B)
+            True
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrix(matrix([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]]))
+            sage: B = AlternatingSignMatrix(matrix([[0,0,1,0],[0,0,0,1],[1,0,0,0],[0,1,0,0]]))
+            sage: A.ASM_compatible(B)
+            False
+        """
+        if B.parent()._n - self.parent()._n != 1:
+            raise ValueError("mismatched sizes")
+
+        AA = self.corner_sum_matrix()
+        BB = B.corner_sum_matrix()
+        for i in range(len(AA[0])):
+            for j in range(len(AA[0])):
+                if not (AA[i,j] >= BB[i,j] and AA[i,j] >= BB[i+1,j+1]-1
+                        and AA[i,j] <= BB[i+1,j] and AA[i,j] <= BB[i,j+1]):
+                    return False
+        return True
+
+    def ASM_compatible_bigger(self):
+        r"""
+        Return all ASM's compatible with ``self`` that are of size one greater
+        than ``self``.
+
+        Given an `n \times n` alternating sign matrix `A`, there are as many
+        ASM's of size `n+1` compatible with `A` as 2 raised to the power of
+        the number of 1s in `A` [EKLP1992]_.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrix([[1,0],[0,1]])
+            sage: A.ASM_compatible_bigger()
+            [
+            [ 0  1  0]  [1 0 0]  [0 1 0]  [1 0 0]
+            [ 1 -1  1]  [0 0 1]  [1 0 0]  [0 1 0]
+            [ 0  1  0], [0 1 0], [0 0 1], [0 0 1]
+            ]
+            sage: B = AlternatingSignMatrix([[0,1],[1,0]])
+            sage: B.ASM_compatible_bigger()
+            [
+            [0 0 1]  [0 0 1]  [0 1 0]  [ 0  1  0]
+            [0 1 0]  [1 0 0]  [0 0 1]  [ 1 -1  1]
+            [1 0 0], [0 1 0], [1 0 0], [ 0  1  0]
+            ]
+
+            sage: B = AlternatingSignMatrix([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]])
+            sage: len(B.ASM_compatible_bigger()) == 2**4
+            True
+        """
+        n = self.parent()._n + 1
+        M = AlternatingSignMatrices(n)
+        sign = []
+        B = matrix(ZZ, n+1)
+        A = 2 * self.height_function()
+        for i in range(n):
+            for j in range(n):
+                A.add_to_entry(i, j, ZZ.one())
+        for a in range(n+1):
+            B[a,0] = B[0,a] = 2*a
+            B[a,n] = B[n,a] = 2*(n-a)
+
+        for i in range(1,n):
+            for j in range(1,n):
+                if A[i-1,j-1] == A[i,j] == A[i-1,j]-2 == A[i,j-1]-2:
+                    B[i,j] = -A[i,j]
+                    sign.append([i,j])
+                else:
+                    s = {A[i-1,j-1]-1,A[i-1,j-1]+3} & {A[i-1,j]-3,A[i-1,j]+1} & {A[i,j-1]-3,A[i,j-1]+1} & {A[i,j]-1,A[i,j]+3}
+                    assert len(s) == 1
+                    B[i,j] = s.pop()
+
+        output = [B]
+        for b in range(len(sign)):
+            N = len(output)
+            for c in range(N):
+                d = copy.copy(output[c])
+                output[c][sign[b][0],sign[b][1]] = -output[c][sign[b][0], sign[b][1]] + 3
+                d[sign[b][0],sign[b][1]] = -d[sign[b][0], sign[b][1]]-1
+                output.append(d)
+
+        for k in range(len(output)):
+            output[k] = M.from_height_function(output[k]/2)
+        return output
+
+    def ASM_compatible_smaller(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the list of all ASMs compatible with ``self`` that are of size
+        one smaller than ``self``.
+
+        Given an alternating sign matrix `A` of size `n`, there are as many
+        ASM's of size `n-1` compatible with it as 2 raised to the power of
+        the number of `-1`'s in `A` [EKLP1992]_.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrix(matrix([[0,0,1,0],[0,1,-1,1],[1,0,0,0],[0,0,1,0]]))
+            sage: A.ASM_compatible_smaller()
+            [
+            [0 0 1]  [ 0  1  0]
+            [1 0 0]  [ 1 -1  1]
+            [0 1 0], [ 0  1  0]
+            ]
+            sage: B = AlternatingSignMatrix(matrix([[1,0,0],[0,0,1],[0,1,0]]))
+            sage: B.ASM_compatible_smaller()
+            [
+            [1 0]
+            [0 1]
+            ]
+        """
+        n = self.parent()._n
+        M = AlternatingSignMatrices(n-1)
+        A = matrix(ZZ, n)
+        B = 2*self.height_function()[:n,:n]
+        sign = []
+        for a in range(n):
+            A[a,0] = 2*a + 1
+            A[0,a] = 2*a + 1
+            A[n-1,a] = 2*(n-a) - 1
+            A[a,n-1] = 2*(n-a) - 1
+
+        for i in range(n-1):
+            for j in range(n-1):
+                if B[i+1,j+1] == B[i,j] == B[i,j+1]+2 == B[i+1,j]+2:
+                    A[i,j] = -B[i,j]
+                    sign.append([i,j])
+                else:
+                    A[i,j] = list({B[i,j]+1,B[i,j]-3} & {B[i,j+1]+3,B[i,j+1]-1} & {B[i+1,j]+3,B[i+1,j]-1} & {B[i+1,j+1]+1,B[i+1,j+1]-3})[0]
+
+        output = [A]
+        for b in range(len(sign)):
+            N = len(output)
+            for c in range(N):
+                d = copy.copy(output[c])
+                output[c][sign[b][0],sign[b][1]] = -output[c][sign[b][0], sign[b][1]]+1
+                d[sign[b][0],sign[b][1]] = -d[sign[b][0], sign[b][1]]-3
+                output.append(d)
+        for k in range(len(output)):
+            output[k] = M.from_height_function((output[k]-matrix.ones(n,n))/2)
+        return output
+
+    @combinatorial_map(name='to Dyck word')
+    def to_dyck_word(self, algorithm):
+        r"""
+        Return a Dyck word determined by the specified algorithm.
+
+        The algorithm 'last_diagonal' uses the last diagonal of the monotone
+        triangle corresponding to ``self``. The algorithm 'link_pattern' returns
+        the Dyck word in bijection with the link pattern of the fully packed
+        loop.
+
+        Note that these two algorithms in general yield different Dyck words for a
+        given alternating sign matrix.
+
+        INPUT:
+
+        - ``algorithm`` -- either ``'last_diagonal'`` or ``'link_pattern'``
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[0,1,0],[1,0,0],[0,0,1]]).to_dyck_word(algorithm = 'last_diagonal')
+            [1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0]
+            sage: d = A([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]]).to_dyck_word(algorithm = 'last_diagonal'); d
+            [1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0]
+            sage: parent(d)
+            Complete Dyck words
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: asm = A([[0,1,0],[1,0,0],[0,0,1]])
+            sage: asm.to_dyck_word(algorithm = 'link_pattern')
+            [1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0]
+            sage: asm = A([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]])
+            sage: asm.to_dyck_word(algorithm = 'link_pattern')
+            [1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0]
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(4)
+            sage: asm = A([[0,0,1,0],[1,0,0,0],[0,1,-1,1],[0,0,1,0]])
+            sage: asm.to_dyck_word(algorithm = 'link_pattern')
+            [1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0]
+            sage: asm.to_dyck_word()
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            TypeError: ...to_dyck_word() ...argument...
+            sage: asm.to_dyck_word(algorithm = 'notamethod')
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            ValueError: unknown algorithm 'notamethod'
+        """
+        if algorithm == 'last_diagonal':
+            MT = self.to_monotone_triangle()
+            nplus = self._matrix.nrows() + 1
+            parkfn = [nplus - row[0] for row in list(MT) if row]
+            return NonDecreasingParkingFunction(parkfn).to_dyck_word().reverse()
+
+        elif algorithm == 'link_pattern':
+            from sage.combinat.perfect_matching import PerfectMatching
+            from sage.combinat.dyck_word import DyckWords
+            p = PerfectMatching(self.link_pattern()).to_noncrossing_set_partition()
+            asm = self.to_matrix()
+            n = asm.nrows()
+            d = DyckWords(n)
+            return d.from_noncrossing_partition(p)
+
+        raise ValueError("unknown algorithm '%s'" % algorithm)
+
+    def number_negative_ones(self):
+        """
+        Return the number of entries in ``self`` equal to -1.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: asm = A([[0,1,0],[1,0,0],[0,0,1]])
+            sage: asm.number_negative_ones()
+            0
+            sage: asm = A([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]])
+            sage: asm.number_negative_ones()
+            1
+        """
+        a = self._matrix
+        return ZZ((len(a.nonzero_positions()) - a.nrows()) // 2)
+
+    def is_permutation(self):
+        """
+        Return ``True`` if ``self`` is a permutation matrix
+        and ``False`` otherwise.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: asm = A([[0,1,0],[1,0,0],[0,0,1]])
+            sage: asm.is_permutation()
+            True
+            sage: asm = A([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]])
+            sage: asm.is_permutation()
+            False
+        """
+        return self.number_negative_ones() == 0
+
+    def to_permutation(self):
+        """
+        Return the corresponding permutation if ``self`` is a permutation
+        matrix.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: asm = A([[0,1,0],[1,0,0],[0,0,1]])
+            sage: p = asm.to_permutation(); p
+            [2, 1, 3]
+            sage: parent(p)
+            Standard permutations
+            sage: asm = A([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]])
+            sage: asm.to_permutation()
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            ValueError: not a permutation matrix
+        """
+        if not self.is_permutation():
+            raise ValueError('not a permutation matrix')
+        asm_matrix = self.to_matrix()
+        return Permutation([j + 1 for (i, j) in asm_matrix.nonzero_positions()])
+
+    @combinatorial_map(name='to semistandard tableau')
+    def to_semistandard_tableau(self):
+        """
+        Return the semistandard tableau corresponding the monotone triangle
+        corresponding to ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[0,0,1],[1,0,0],[0,1,0]]).to_semistandard_tableau()
+            [[1, 1, 3], [2, 3], [3]]
+            sage: t = A([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]]).to_semistandard_tableau(); t
+            [[1, 1, 2], [2, 3], [3]]
+            sage: parent(t)
+            Semistandard tableaux
+        """
+        from sage.combinat.tableau import SemistandardTableau
+        mt = self.to_monotone_triangle()
+        ssyt = [[0]*(len(mt) - j) for j in range(len(mt))]
+        for i in range(len(mt)):
+            for j in range(len(mt[i])):
+                ssyt[i][j] = mt[j][-(i+1)]
+        return SemistandardTableau(ssyt)
+
+    def left_key(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the left key of the alternating sign matrix ``self``.
+
+        The left key of an alternating sign matrix was defined by Lascoux
+        in [Lasc]_ and is obtained by successively removing all the
+        `-1`'s until what remains is a permutation matrix. This notion
+        corresponds to the notion of left key for semistandard tableaux. So
+        our algorithm proceeds as follows: we map ``self`` to its
+        corresponding monotone triangle, view that monotone triangle as a
+        semistandard tableau, take its left key, and then map back through
+        monotone triangles to the permutation matrix which is the left key.
+
+        See also [Ava2007]_.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[0,0,1],[1,0,0],[0,1,0]]).left_key()
+            [0 0 1]
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            sage: t = A([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]]).left_key(); t
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0]
+            sage: parent(t)
+            Alternating sign matrices of size 3
+        """
+        lkey = self.to_semistandard_tableau().left_key_tableau()
+        mt = [[0]*(len(lkey) - j) for j in range(len(lkey))]
+        for i in range(len(lkey)):
+            for j in range(len(lkey[i])):
+                mt[i][j] = lkey[len(lkey[i])-j-1][i]
+        A = AlternatingSignMatrices(len(lkey))
+        return A.from_monotone_triangle(mt)
+
+    @combinatorial_map(name='to left key permutation')
+    def left_key_as_permutation(self):
+        """
+        Return the permutation of the left key of ``self``.
+
+        .. SEEALSO::
+
+            - :meth:`left_key()`
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[0,0,1],[1,0,0],[0,1,0]]).left_key_as_permutation()
+            [3, 1, 2]
+            sage: t = A([[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]]).left_key_as_permutation(); t
+            [1, 3, 2]
+            sage: parent(t)
+            Standard permutations
+        """
+        return self.left_key().to_permutation()
+
+
+class AlternatingSignMatrices(UniqueRepresentation, Parent):
+    r"""
+    Class of all `n \times n` alternating sign matrices.
+
+    An alternating sign matrix of size `n` is an `n \times n` matrix of `0`'s,
+    `1`'s and `-1`'s such that the sum of each row and column is `1` and the
+    nonzero entries in each row and column alternate in sign.
+
+    Alternating sign matrices of size `n` are in bijection with
+    :class:`monotone triangles <MonotoneTriangles>` with `n` rows.
+
+    INPUT:
+
+    - ``n`` -- integer; the size of the matrices
+
+    EXAMPLES:
+
+    This will create an instance to manipulate the alternating sign
+    matrices of size 3::
+
+        sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+        sage: A
+        Alternating sign matrices of size 3
+        sage: A.cardinality()
+        7
+
+    Notably, this implementation allows to make a lattice of it::
+
+        sage: # needs sage.graphs
+        sage: L = A.lattice(); L
+        Finite lattice containing 7 elements
+        sage: L.category()
+        Category of facade finite enumerated lattice posets
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, n):
+        r"""
+        Initialize ``self``.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(4)
+            sage: TestSuite(A).run()
+        """
+        self._n = n
+        self._matrix_space = MatrixSpace(ZZ, n)
+        Parent.__init__(self, category=FiniteEnumeratedSets())
+
+    def _repr_(self):
+        r"""
+        Return a string representation of ``self``.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(4); A
+            Alternating sign matrices of size 4
+        """
+        return "Alternating sign matrices of size %s" % self._n
+
+    def _repr_option(self, key):
+        """
+        Metadata about the :meth:`_repr_` output.
+
+        See :meth:`sage.structure.parent._repr_option` for details.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A._repr_option('element_ascii_art')
+            True
+        """
+        return self._matrix_space._repr_option(key)
+
+    def __contains__(self, asm):
+        """
+        Check if ``asm`` is in ``self``.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: [[0,1,0],[1,0,0],[0,0,1]] in A
+            True
+            sage: [[0,1,0],[1,-1,1],[0,1,0]] in A
+            True
+            sage: [[0, 1],[1,0]] in A
+            False
+            sage: [[1,0,0,0],[0,1,0,0],[0,0,1,0],[0,0,0,1]] in A
+            False
+            sage: [[-1, 1, 1],[1,-1,1],[1,1,-1]] in A
+            False
+
+            sage: M = MatrixSpace(ZZ, 3)
+            sage: for p in [[-1,1,1,1,0,0,1,0,0],
+            ....:           [0,1,0,0,1,0,1,-1,1],
+            ....:           [0,1,0,0,2,0,1,-2,1],
+            ....:           [0,2,0,1,-2,1,0,1,0]]:
+            ....:     m = M(p)
+            ....:     assert not m in A
+            ....:     m = m.transpose()
+            ....:     assert not m in A
+            ....:     m = m.antitranspose()
+            ....:     assert not m in A
+            ....:     m = m.transpose()
+            ....:     assert not m in A
+
+        Exhaustive verifications for `2 \times 2` and `3 \times 3` matrices::
+
+            sage: from itertools import product
+
+            sage: M = MatrixSpace(ZZ, 2)
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(2)
+            sage: mats = [M(p) for p in product([-1,0,1], repeat=4)]
+            sage: sum(1 for m in mats if m in A)
+            2
+
+            sage: M = MatrixSpace(ZZ, 3)
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: mats = [M(p) for p in product([-1,0,1], repeat=9)]
+            sage: sum(1 for m in mats if m in A)
+            7
+        """
+        if isinstance(asm, AlternatingSignMatrix):
+            return asm._matrix.nrows() == self._n
+        try:
+            asm = self._matrix_space(asm)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            return False
+
+        if not asm.is_square():
+            return False
+
+        n = asm.nrows()
+        for i in range(n):
+            # check that partial sums of the i-th row
+            # and i-th column are either 0 or 1
+            rs = cs = ZZ.zero()
+            for j in range(n):
+                rs += asm[i,j]
+                if not (rs.is_zero() or rs.is_one()):
+                    return False
+
+                cs += asm[j,i]
+                if not (cs.is_zero() or cs.is_one()):
+                    return False
+
+            # check that the total sums of the i-th
+            # row and i-th column is 1
+            if not (rs.is_one() and cs.is_one()):
+                return False
+
+        return True
+
+    def _element_constructor_(self, asm, check=True):
+        """
+        Construct an element of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: elt = A([[1, 0, 0],[0, 1, 0],[0, 0, 1]]); elt
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            sage: elt.parent() is A
+            True
+            sage: A([[3, 2, 1], [2, 1], [1]])
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+
+        Check that checking is disabled with ``check=False``::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A([[1,2,3],[4,5,6],[7,8,9]])
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            ValueError: invalid alternating sign matrix
+            sage: A([[1,2,3],[4,5,6],[7,8,9]], check=False)
+            [1 2 3]
+            [4 5 6]
+            [7 8 9]
+        """
+        if isinstance(asm, AlternatingSignMatrix):
+            if asm.parent() is self:
+                return asm
+            raise ValueError("cannot convert between alternating sign matrices of different sizes")
+        try:
+            m = self._matrix_space(asm)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            try:
+                return self.from_monotone_triangle(asm, check=check)
+            except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                raise ValueError('invalid alternating sign matrix')
+
+        m.set_immutable()
+        if check and m not in self:
+            raise ValueError('invalid alternating sign matrix')
+        return self.element_class(self, m)
+
+    Element = AlternatingSignMatrix
+
+    def _an_element_(self):
+        """
+        Return an element of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A._an_element_()
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+        """
+        return self.element_class(self, self._matrix_space.identity_matrix())
+
+    def random_element(self):
+        r"""
+        Return a uniformly random alternating sign matrix.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrices(7).random_element()  # random
+            [ 0  0  0  0  1  0  0]
+            [ 0  0  1  0 -1  0  1]
+            [ 0  0  0  0  1  0  0]
+            [ 0  1 -1  0  0  1  0]
+            [ 1 -1  1  0  0  0  0]
+            [ 0  0  0  1  0  0  0]
+            [ 0  1  0  0  0  0  0]
+            sage: a = AlternatingSignMatrices(5).random_element()
+            sage: bool(a.number_negative_ones()) or a.is_permutation()
+            True
+
+        This is done using a modified version of Propp and Wilson's "coupling
+        from the past" algorithm. It creates a uniformly random Gelfand-Tsetlin
+        triangle with top row `[n, n-1, \ldots 2, 1]`, and then converts it to
+        an alternating sign matrix.
+        """
+        from sage.combinat.gelfand_tsetlin_patterns import GelfandTsetlinPatterns
+        n = self._n
+        toprow = [n - i for i in range(n)]
+        gt = GelfandTsetlinPatterns(top_row=toprow, strict=True)
+        randomgt = gt.random_element()
+        A = AlternatingSignMatrices(n)
+        return A.from_monotone_triangle(randomgt)
+
+    def from_monotone_triangle(self, triangle, check=True):
+        r"""
+        Return an alternating sign matrix from a monotone triangle.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A.from_monotone_triangle([[3, 2, 1], [2, 1], [1]])
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            sage: A.from_monotone_triangle([[3, 2, 1], [3, 2], [3]])
+            [0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [1 0 0]
+
+
+            sage: A.from_monotone_triangle([[3, 2, 1], [2, 2], [1]])
+            Traceback (most recent call last):
+            ...
+            ValueError: not a valid triangle
+        """
+        n = len(triangle)
+        if n != self._n:
+            raise ValueError("incorrect size")
+
+        asm = self._matrix_space()
+        for i in range(n - 1):
+            for k in triangle[n - i - 1]:
+                asm[i, k - 1] += 1
+                asm[i + 1, k - 1] -= 1
+        for i in range(n):
+            asm[n - 1, i] += 1
+
+        asm.set_immutable()
+        if check and asm not in self:
+            raise ValueError('not a valid triangle')
+        return self.element_class(self, asm)
+
+    def from_corner_sum(self, corner):
+        r"""
+        Return an alternating sign matrix from a corner sum matrix.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A.from_corner_sum(matrix([[0,0,0,0],[0,1,1,1],[0,1,2,2],[0,1,2,3]]))
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+            sage: A.from_corner_sum(matrix([[0,0,0,0],[0,0,1,1],[0,1,1,2],[0,1,2,3]]))
+            [ 0  1  0]
+            [ 1 -1  1]
+            [ 0  1  0]
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(4)
+            sage: all(A.from_corner_sum(a.corner_sum_matrix()) == a for a in A)
+            True
+        """
+        n = self._n
+        corner = MatrixSpace(ZZ, n+1)(corner)
+        asm = corner[1:,1:] + corner[:n,:n] - corner[:n,1:] - corner[1:,:n]
+        return self.element_class(self, asm)
+
+    def from_height_function(self, height):
+        r"""
+        Return an alternating sign matrix from a height function.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A.from_height_function(matrix([[0,1,2,3],[1,2,1,2],[2,3,2,1],[3,2,1,0]]))
+            [0 0 1]
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            sage: A.from_height_function(matrix([[0,1,2,3],[1,2,1,2],[2,1,2,1],[3,2,1,0]]))
+            [ 0  1  0]
+            [ 1 -1  1]
+            [ 0  1  0]
+        """
+        n = self._n
+        height = MatrixSpace(ZZ, n + 1)(height)
+        return self.from_corner_sum([[(i + j - height[i, j]) // 2
+                                      for i in range(n + 1)]
+                                     for j in range(n + 1)])
+
+    def from_contre_tableau(self, comps):
+        r"""
+        Return an alternating sign matrix from a contre-tableau.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: ASM = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: ASM.from_contre_tableau([[1, 2, 3], [1, 2], [1]])
+            [0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [1 0 0]
+            sage: ASM.from_contre_tableau([[1, 2, 3], [2, 3], [3]])
+            [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1]
+        """
+        n = len(comps)
+        M = [[0 for _ in range(n)] for _ in range(n)]
+
+        previous_set = set()
+        for col in range(n-1, -1, -1):
+            s = set(comps[col])
+            for x in s.difference(previous_set):
+                M[x-1][col] = 1
+            for x in previous_set.difference(s):
+                M[x-1][col] = -1
+
+            previous_set = s
+
+        return AlternatingSignMatrix(M)
+
+    def size(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the size of the matrices in ``self``.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(4)
+            sage: A.size()
+            4
+        """
+        return self._n
+
+    def cardinality(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the cardinality of ``self``.
+
+        The number of `n \times n` alternating sign matrices is equal to
+
+        .. MATH::
+
+            \prod_{k=0}^{n-1} \frac{(3k+1)!}{(n+k)!} = \frac{1! 4! 7! 10!
+            \cdots (3n-2)!}{n! (n+1)! (n+2)! (n+3)! \cdots (2n-1)!}
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: [AlternatingSignMatrices(n).cardinality() for n in range(11)]
+            [1, 1, 2, 7, 42, 429, 7436, 218348, 10850216, 911835460, 129534272700]
+        """
+        return Integer(prod(factorial(3 * k + 1) / factorial(self._n + k)
+                            for k in range(self._n)))
+
+    def matrix_space(self):
+        """
+        Return the underlying matrix space.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: A.matrix_space()
+            Full MatrixSpace of 3 by 3 dense matrices over Integer Ring
+        """
+        return self._matrix_space
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        r"""
+        Iterator on the alternating sign matrices of size `n`.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrices(3).list()
+            [
+            [1 0 0]  [0 1 0]  [1 0 0]  [ 0  1  0]  [0 0 1]  [0 1 0]  [0 0 1]
+            [0 1 0]  [1 0 0]  [0 0 1]  [ 1 -1  1]  [1 0 0]  [0 0 1]  [0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1], [0 0 1], [0 1 0], [ 0  1  0], [0 1 0], [1 0 0], [1 0 0]
+            ]
+            sage: sum(1 for a in AlternatingSignMatrices(4))
+            42
+        """
+        for t in MonotoneTriangles(self._n):
+            yield self.from_monotone_triangle(t, check=False)
+
+    def first(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the first alternating sign matrix.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrices(5).first()
+            [1 0 0 0 0]
+            [0 1 0 0 0]
+            [0 0 1 0 0]
+            [0 0 0 1 0]
+            [0 0 0 0 1]
+        """
+        return self.element_class(self, self._matrix_space.one())
+
+    def last(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the last alternating sign matrix.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrices(5).last()
+            [0 0 0 0 1]
+            [0 0 0 1 0]
+            [0 0 1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0 0 0]
+            [1 0 0 0 0]
+        """
+        m = self._matrix_space.zero().__copy__()
+        for i in range(self._n):
+            m[i, self._n - i - 1] = 1
+        m.set_immutable()
+        return self.element_class(self, m)
+
+    def _lattice_initializer(self):
+        r"""
+        Return a 2-tuple to use in argument of ``LatticePoset``.
+
+        For more details about the cover relations, see
+        ``MonotoneTriangles``. Notice that the returned matrices are
+        made immutable to ensure their hashability required by
+        ``LatticePoset``.
+
+        EXAMPLES:
+
+        Proof of the lattice property for alternating sign matrices of
+        size 3::
+
+            sage: # needs sage.graphs
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: P = Poset(A._lattice_initializer())
+            sage: P.is_lattice()
+            True
+        """
+        mts, rels = MonotoneTriangles(self._n)._lattice_initializer()
+        bij = {t: self.from_monotone_triangle(t) for t in mts}
+        return (bij.values(), [(bij[a], bij[b]) for (a, b) in rels])
+
+    def cover_relations(self):
+        r"""
+        Iterate on the cover relations between the alternating sign
+        matrices.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: for (a,b) in A.cover_relations():
+            ....:   eval('a, b')
+            (
+            [1 0 0]  [0 1 0]
+            [0 1 0]  [1 0 0]
+            [0 0 1], [0 0 1]
+            )
+            (
+            [1 0 0]  [1 0 0]
+            [0 1 0]  [0 0 1]
+            [0 0 1], [0 1 0]
+            )
+            (
+            [0 1 0]  [ 0  1  0]
+            [1 0 0]  [ 1 -1  1]
+            [0 0 1], [ 0  1  0]
+            )
+            (
+            [1 0 0]  [ 0  1  0]
+            [0 0 1]  [ 1 -1  1]
+            [0 1 0], [ 0  1  0]
+            )
+            (
+            [ 0  1  0]  [0 0 1]
+            [ 1 -1  1]  [1 0 0]
+            [ 0  1  0], [0 1 0]
+            )
+            (
+            [ 0  1  0]  [0 1 0]
+            [ 1 -1  1]  [0 0 1]
+            [ 0  1  0], [1 0 0]
+            )
+            (
+            [0 0 1]  [0 0 1]
+            [1 0 0]  [0 1 0]
+            [0 1 0], [1 0 0]
+            )
+            (
+            [0 1 0]  [0 0 1]
+            [0 0 1]  [0 1 0]
+            [1 0 0], [1 0 0]
+            )
+        """
+        return iter(self._lattice_initializer()[1])
+
+    def lattice(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the lattice of the alternating sign matrices of size
+        `n`, created by ``LatticePoset``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(3)
+            sage: L = A.lattice(); L                                                    # needs sage.graphs
+            Finite lattice containing 7 elements
+        """
+        return LatticePoset(self._lattice_initializer(), cover_relations=True,
+                            check=False)
+
+    @cached_method
+    def gyration_orbits(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the list of gyration orbits of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrices(3).gyration_orbits()
+            ((
+              [1 0 0]  [0 0 1]  [ 0  1  0]
+              [0 1 0]  [0 1 0]  [ 1 -1  1]
+              [0 0 1], [1 0 0], [ 0  1  0]
+             ),
+             (
+              [0 1 0]  [1 0 0]
+              [1 0 0]  [0 0 1]
+              [0 0 1], [0 1 0]
+             ),
+             (
+              [0 0 1]  [0 1 0]
+              [1 0 0]  [0 0 1]
+              [0 1 0], [1 0 0]
+             ))
+        """
+        ASMs = list(self)
+        perm = Permutation([ASMs.index(asm.gyration())+1 for asm in ASMs])
+        return tuple([tuple([ASMs[i-1] for i in cyc])
+                      for cyc in perm.cycle_tuples()])
+
+    def gyration_orbit_sizes(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the sizes of gyration orbits of ``self``.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrices(3).gyration_orbit_sizes()
+            [3, 2, 2]
+            sage: AlternatingSignMatrices(4).gyration_orbit_sizes()
+            [4, 8, 2, 8, 8, 8, 2, 2]
+
+            sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(5)
+            sage: li = [5,10,10,10,10,10,2,5,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,
+            ....: 4,10,10,10,10,10,10,4,5,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,2,4,5,10,10,10,10,10,10,
+            ....: 4,5,10,10,2,2]
+            sage: A.gyration_orbit_sizes() == li
+            True
+        """
+        return [len(orbit) for orbit in self.gyration_orbits()]
+
+
+class MonotoneTriangles(GelfandTsetlinPatternsTopRow):
+    r"""
+    Monotone triangles with `n` rows.
+
+    A monotone triangle is a number triangle `(a_{i,j})_{1 \leq i \leq
+    n , 1 \leq j \leq i}` on `\{1, \dots, n\}` such that:
+
+    - `a_{i,j} < a_{i,j+1}`
+
+    - `a_{i+1,j} < a_{i,j} \leq a_{i+1,j+1}`
+
+    This notably requires that the bottom column is ``[1,...,n]``.
+
+    Alternatively a monotone triangle is a strict Gelfand-Tsetlin pattern with
+    top row `(n, \ldots, 2, 1)`.
+
+    INPUT:
+
+    - ``n`` -- the number of rows in the monotone triangles
+
+    EXAMPLES:
+
+    This represents the monotone triangles with base ``[3,2,1]``::
+
+        sage: M = MonotoneTriangles(3)
+        sage: M
+        Monotone triangles with 3 rows
+        sage: M.cardinality()
+        7
+
+    The monotone triangles are a lattice::
+
+        sage: M.lattice()                                                               # needs sage.graphs
+        Finite lattice containing 7 elements
+
+    Monotone triangles can be converted to alternating sign matrices
+    and back::
+
+        sage: M = MonotoneTriangles(5)
+        sage: A = AlternatingSignMatrices(5)
+        sage: all(A.from_monotone_triangle(m).to_monotone_triangle() == m for m in M)
+        True
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, n):
+        r"""
+        Initialize ``self``.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: M = MonotoneTriangles(4)
+            sage: TestSuite(M).run()
+            sage: M2 = MonotoneTriangles(int(4))
+            sage: M is M2
+            True
+        """
+        GelfandTsetlinPatternsTopRow.__init__(self, tuple(reversed(range(1, n+1))), True)
+
+    def _repr_(self):
+        r"""
+        String representation.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: M = MonotoneTriangles(4)
+            sage: M
+            Monotone triangles with 4 rows
+        """
+        return "Monotone triangles with %s rows" % self._n
+
+    def cardinality(self):
+        r"""
+        Cardinality of ``self``.
+
+        The number of monotone triangles with `n` rows is equal to
+
+        .. MATH::
+
+            \prod_{k=0}^{n-1} \frac{(3k+1)!}{(n+k)!} = \frac{1! 4! 7! 10!
+            \cdots (3n-2)!}{n! (n+1)! (n+2)! (n+3)! \cdots (2n-1)!}
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: M = MonotoneTriangles(4)
+            sage: M.cardinality()
+            42
+        """
+        return Integer(prod(factorial(3 * k + 1) / factorial(self._n + k)
+                            for k in range(self._n)))
+
+    def _lattice_initializer(self):
+        r"""
+        Return a 2-tuple to use in argument of ``LatticePoset``.
+
+        This couple is composed by the set of the monotone triangles
+        with `n` rows and the cover relations. Specializing this
+        function allows to generate the monotone triangles just once,
+        and so to speed up the computation in comparison of
+        ``(list(self), self.cover_relations())``. Notice that the
+        function also switch the representation of monotone triangles
+        from list of list to tuple of tuple in order to make them
+        hashable (required to make a poset with them).
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: # needs sage.graphs
+            sage: M = MonotoneTriangles(3)
+            sage: P = Poset(M._lattice_initializer())
+            sage: P.is_lattice()
+            True
+        """
+        # get a list of the elements and switch to a tuple representation
+        set_ = [tuple(tuple(t) for t in x) for x in list(self)]
+        return (set_, [(a, b) for a in set_ for b in set_ if _is_a_cover(a, b)])
+
+    def cover_relations(self):
+        r"""
+        Iterate on the cover relations in the set of monotone triangles
+        with `n` rows.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: M = MonotoneTriangles(3)
+            sage: for (a,b) in M.cover_relations():
+            ....:   eval('a, b')
+            ([[3, 2, 1], [2, 1], [1]], [[3, 2, 1], [2, 1], [2]])
+            ([[3, 2, 1], [2, 1], [1]], [[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [1]])
+            ([[3, 2, 1], [2, 1], [2]], [[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [2]])
+            ([[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [1]], [[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [2]])
+            ([[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [2]], [[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [3]])
+            ([[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [2]], [[3, 2, 1], [3, 2], [2]])
+            ([[3, 2, 1], [3, 1], [3]], [[3, 2, 1], [3, 2], [3]])
+            ([[3, 2, 1], [3, 2], [2]], [[3, 2, 1], [3, 2], [3]])
+        """
+        set_ = list(self)
+        return ((a, b) for a in set_ for b in set_ if _is_a_cover(a, b))
+
+    def lattice(self):
+        r"""
+        Return the lattice of the monotone triangles with `n` rows.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: M = MonotoneTriangles(3)
+            sage: P = M.lattice(); P                                                    # needs sage.graphs
+            Finite lattice containing 7 elements
+        """
+        return LatticePoset(self._lattice_initializer(), cover_relations=True,
+                            check=False)
+
+
+def _is_a_cover(mt0, mt1):
+    r"""
+    Define the cover relations.
+
+    Return ``True`` if and only if the second argument is a cover of
+    the first one.
+
+    EXAMPLES::
+
+        sage: import sage.combinat.alternating_sign_matrix as asm
+        sage: asm._is_a_cover([[1,2,3],[1,2],[1]], [[1,2,3],[1,3],[1]])
+        True
+        sage: asm._is_a_cover([[1,2,3],[1,3],[2]], [[1,2,3],[1,2],[1]])
+        False
+    """
+    diffs = 0
+    for (a, b) in zip(flatten(mt0), flatten(mt1)):
+        if a != b:
+            if a + 1 == b:
+                diffs += 1
+            else:
+                return False
+        if diffs > 1:
+            return False
+    return diffs == 1
+
+
+from sage.misc.persist import register_unpickle_override
+register_unpickle_override('sage.combinat.alternating_sign_matrix', 'AlternatingSignMatrices_n', AlternatingSignMatrices)
+register_unpickle_override('sage.combinat.alternating_sign_matrix', 'MonotoneTriangles_n', MonotoneTriangles)
+
+
+class ContreTableaux(Parent, metaclass=ClasscallMetaclass):
+    """
+    Factory class for the combinatorial class of contre tableaux of size `n`.
+
+    EXAMPLES::
+
+        sage: ct4 = ContreTableaux(4); ct4
+        Contre tableaux of size 4
+        sage: ct4.cardinality()
+        42
+    """
+    @staticmethod
+    def __classcall_private__(cls, n, **kwds):
+        r"""
+        Factory pattern.
+
+        Check properties on arguments, then call the appropriate class.
+
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: C = ContreTableaux(4)
+            sage: type(C)
+            <class 'sage.combinat.alternating_sign_matrix.ContreTableaux_n'>
+        """
+        assert isinstance(n, (int, Integer))
+        return ContreTableaux_n(n, **kwds)
+
+
+class ContreTableaux_n(ContreTableaux):
+    def __init__(self, n):
+        """
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: ct2 = ContreTableaux(2); ct2
+            Contre tableaux of size 2
+            sage: ct2 == loads(dumps(ct2))
+            True
+        """
+        self.n = n
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        """
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: repr(ContreTableaux(2))
+            'Contre tableaux of size 2'
+        """
+        return "Contre tableaux of size %s" % self.n
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        """
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: C = ContreTableaux(4)
+            sage: C == loads(dumps(C))
+            True
+        """
+        return self.n == other.n
+
+    def cardinality(self):
+        """
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: [ContreTableaux(n).cardinality() for n in range(11)]
+            [1, 1, 2, 7, 42, 429, 7436, 218348, 10850216, 911835460, 129534272700]
+        """
+        return Integer(prod(factorial(3 * k + 1) / factorial(self.n + k)
+                            for k in range(self.n)))
+
+    def _iterator_rec(self, i):
+        """
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: c = ContreTableaux(2)
+            sage: list(c._iterator_rec(0))
+            [[]]
+            sage: list(c._iterator_rec(1))
+            [[[1, 2]]]
+            sage: list(c._iterator_rec(2))
+            [[[1, 2], [1]], [[1, 2], [2]]]
+        """
+        if i == 0:
+            yield []
+        elif i == 1:
+            yield [list(range(1, self.n + 1))]
+        else:
+            for columns in self._iterator_rec(i-1):
+                previous_column = columns[-1]
+                for column in _next_column_iterator(previous_column, len(previous_column)-1):
+                    yield columns + [column]
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        """
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: list(ContreTableaux(0))
+            [[]]
+            sage: list(ContreTableaux(1))
+            [[[1]]]
+            sage: list(ContreTableaux(2))
+            [[[1, 2], [1]], [[1, 2], [2]]]
+            sage: list(ContreTableaux(3))
+            [[[1, 2, 3], [1, 2], [1]],
+             [[1, 2, 3], [1, 2], [2]],
+             [[1, 2, 3], [1, 3], [1]],
+             [[1, 2, 3], [1, 3], [2]],
+             [[1, 2, 3], [1, 3], [3]],
+             [[1, 2, 3], [2, 3], [2]],
+             [[1, 2, 3], [2, 3], [3]]]
+        """
+        yield from self._iterator_rec(self.n)
+
+
+def _next_column_iterator(previous_column, height, i=None):
+    r"""
+    Return a generator for all columns of height ``height``
+    properly filled from row 1 to ``i``.
+
+    "Properly filled" means strictly increasing and having
+    the property that the `k`-th entry is `\geq` to the `k`-th
+    entry of ``previous_column`` for each `k`.
+
+    EXAMPLES::
+
+        sage: import sage.combinat.alternating_sign_matrix as asm
+        sage: list(asm._next_column_iterator([1], 0))
+        [[]]
+        sage: list(asm._next_column_iterator([1,5],1))
+        [[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]]
+        sage: list(asm._next_column_iterator([1,4,5],2))
+        [[1, 4], [1, 5], [2, 4], [2, 5], [3, 4], [3, 5], [4, 5]]
+    """
+    if i is None:
+        i = height
+    if i == 0:
+        yield [-1] * height
+    else:
+        for column in _next_column_iterator(previous_column, height, i-1):
+            min_value = previous_column[i-1]
+            if i > 1:
+                min_value = max(min_value, column[i-2]+1)
+            for value in range(min_value, previous_column[i]+1):
+                c = column[:]
+                c[i-1] = value
+                yield c
+
+
+def _previous_column_iterator(column, height, max_value):
+    """
+    EXAMPLES::
+
+        sage: import sage.combinat.alternating_sign_matrix as asm
+        sage: list(asm._previous_column_iterator([2,3], 3, 4))
+        [[1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 4], [1, 3, 4], [2, 3, 4]]
+    """
+    new_column = [1] + column + [max_value] * (height - len(column))
+    return _next_column_iterator(new_column, height)
+
+
+class TruncatedStaircases(Parent, metaclass=ClasscallMetaclass):
+    """
+    Factory class for the combinatorial class of truncated staircases
+    of size ``n`` with last column ``last_column``.
+
+    EXAMPLES::
+
+        sage: t4 = TruncatedStaircases(4, [2,3]); t4
+        Truncated staircases of size 4 with last column [2, 3]
+        sage: t4.cardinality()
+        4
+    """
+    @staticmethod
+    def __classcall_private__(cls, n, last_column, **kwds):
+        r"""
+        Factory pattern.
+
+        Check properties on arguments, then call the appropriate class.
+
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: T = TruncatedStaircases(4, [2,3])
+            sage: type(T)
+            <class 'sage.combinat.alternating_sign_matrix.TruncatedStaircases_nlastcolumn'>
+        """
+        assert isinstance(n, (int, Integer))
+        return TruncatedStaircases_nlastcolumn(n, last_column, **kwds)
+
+
+class TruncatedStaircases_nlastcolumn(TruncatedStaircases):
+    def __init__(self, n, last_column):
+        """
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: t4 = TruncatedStaircases(4, [2,3]); t4
+            Truncated staircases of size 4 with last column [2, 3]
+            sage: t4 == loads(dumps(t4))
+            True
+        """
+        self.n = n
+        self.last_column = last_column
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        """
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: repr(TruncatedStaircases(4, [2,3]))
+            'Truncated staircases of size 4 with last column [2, 3]'
+        """
+        return "Truncated staircases of size %s with last column %s" % (self.n, self.last_column)
+
+    def _iterator_rec(self, i):
+        """
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: t = TruncatedStaircases(3, [2,3])
+            sage: list(t._iterator_rec(1))
+            []
+            sage: list(t._iterator_rec(2))
+            [[[2, 3]]]
+            sage: list(t._iterator_rec(3))
+            [[[1, 2, 3], [2, 3]]]
+        """
+        if i < len(self.last_column):
+            return
+        elif i == len(self.last_column):
+            yield [self.last_column]
+        else:
+            for columns in self._iterator_rec(i-1):
+                previous_column = columns[0]
+                for column in _previous_column_iterator(previous_column, len(previous_column)+1, self.n):
+                    yield [column] + columns
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        """
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: list(TruncatedStaircases(4, [2,3]))
+            [[[4, 3, 2, 1], [3, 2, 1], [3, 2]], [[4, 3, 2, 1], [4, 2, 1], [3, 2]], [[4, 3, 2, 1], [4, 3, 1], [3, 2]], [[4, 3, 2, 1], [4, 3, 2], [3, 2]]]
+        """
+        for z in self._iterator_rec(self.n):
+            yield [list(reversed(x)) for x in z]
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        r"""
+        TESTS::
+
+            sage: T = TruncatedStaircases(4, [2,3])
+            sage: T == loads(dumps(T))
+            True
+        """
+        return (self.n == other.n and
+                self.last_column == other.last_column)
+
+    def cardinality(self):
+        r"""
+        EXAMPLES::
+
+            sage: T = TruncatedStaircases(4, [2,3])
+            sage: T.cardinality()
+            4
+        """
+        c = 0
+        for _ in self:
+            c += 1
+        return c