YES(?,O(n^1)) We are left with following problem, upon which TcT provides the certificate YES(?,O(n^1)). Strict Trs: { active(zeros()) -> mark(cons(0(), zeros())) , active(cons(X1, X2)) -> cons(active(X1), X2) , active(tail(X)) -> tail(active(X)) , active(tail(cons(X, XS))) -> mark(XS) , cons(mark(X1), X2) -> mark(cons(X1, X2)) , cons(ok(X1), ok(X2)) -> ok(cons(X1, X2)) , tail(mark(X)) -> mark(tail(X)) , tail(ok(X)) -> ok(tail(X)) , proper(zeros()) -> ok(zeros()) , proper(cons(X1, X2)) -> cons(proper(X1), proper(X2)) , proper(0()) -> ok(0()) , proper(tail(X)) -> tail(proper(X)) , top(mark(X)) -> top(proper(X)) , top(ok(X)) -> top(active(X)) } Obligation: innermost runtime complexity Answer: YES(?,O(n^1)) The problem is match-bounded by 5. The enriched problem is compatible with the following automaton. { active_0(2) -> 1 , active_0(3) -> 1 , active_0(5) -> 1 , active_0(8) -> 1 , active_1(2) -> 15 , active_1(3) -> 15 , active_1(5) -> 15 , active_1(8) -> 15 , active_2(11) -> 16 , active_2(12) -> 16 , active_3(26) -> 22 , active_4(18) -> 28 , active_4(29) -> 30 , active_5(25) -> 31 , zeros_0() -> 2 , zeros_1() -> 12 , zeros_2() -> 19 , zeros_3() -> 27 , mark_0(2) -> 3 , mark_0(3) -> 3 , mark_0(5) -> 3 , mark_0(8) -> 3 , mark_1(10) -> 1 , mark_1(10) -> 15 , mark_1(13) -> 4 , mark_1(13) -> 13 , mark_1(14) -> 6 , mark_1(14) -> 14 , mark_2(17) -> 16 , cons_0(2, 2) -> 4 , cons_0(2, 3) -> 4 , cons_0(2, 5) -> 4 , cons_0(2, 8) -> 4 , cons_0(3, 2) -> 4 , cons_0(3, 3) -> 4 , cons_0(3, 5) -> 4 , cons_0(3, 8) -> 4 , cons_0(5, 2) -> 4 , cons_0(5, 3) -> 4 , cons_0(5, 5) -> 4 , cons_0(5, 8) -> 4 , cons_0(8, 2) -> 4 , cons_0(8, 3) -> 4 , cons_0(8, 5) -> 4 , cons_0(8, 8) -> 4 , cons_1(2, 2) -> 13 , cons_1(2, 3) -> 13 , cons_1(2, 5) -> 13 , cons_1(2, 8) -> 13 , cons_1(3, 2) -> 13 , cons_1(3, 3) -> 13 , cons_1(3, 5) -> 13 , cons_1(3, 8) -> 13 , cons_1(5, 2) -> 13 , cons_1(5, 3) -> 13 , cons_1(5, 5) -> 13 , cons_1(5, 8) -> 13 , cons_1(8, 2) -> 13 , cons_1(8, 3) -> 13 , cons_1(8, 5) -> 13 , cons_1(8, 8) -> 13 , cons_1(11, 12) -> 10 , cons_2(18, 19) -> 17 , cons_2(20, 21) -> 16 , cons_3(18, 19) -> 26 , cons_3(23, 24) -> 22 , cons_4(25, 27) -> 29 , cons_4(28, 19) -> 22 , cons_5(31, 27) -> 30 , 0_0() -> 5 , 0_1() -> 11 , 0_2() -> 18 , 0_3() -> 25 , tail_0(2) -> 6 , tail_0(3) -> 6 , tail_0(5) -> 6 , tail_0(8) -> 6 , tail_1(2) -> 14 , tail_1(3) -> 14 , tail_1(5) -> 14 , tail_1(8) -> 14 , proper_0(2) -> 7 , proper_0(3) -> 7 , proper_0(5) -> 7 , proper_0(8) -> 7 , proper_1(2) -> 15 , proper_1(3) -> 15 , proper_1(5) -> 15 , proper_1(8) -> 15 , proper_2(10) -> 16 , proper_2(11) -> 20 , proper_2(12) -> 21 , proper_3(17) -> 22 , proper_3(18) -> 23 , proper_3(19) -> 24 , ok_0(2) -> 8 , ok_0(3) -> 8 , ok_0(5) -> 8 , ok_0(8) -> 8 , ok_1(11) -> 7 , ok_1(11) -> 15 , ok_1(12) -> 7 , ok_1(12) -> 15 , ok_1(13) -> 4 , ok_1(13) -> 13 , ok_1(14) -> 6 , ok_1(14) -> 14 , ok_2(18) -> 20 , ok_2(19) -> 21 , ok_3(25) -> 23 , ok_3(26) -> 16 , ok_3(27) -> 24 , ok_4(29) -> 22 , top_0(2) -> 9 , top_0(3) -> 9 , top_0(5) -> 9 , top_0(8) -> 9 , top_1(15) -> 9 , top_2(16) -> 9 , top_3(22) -> 9 , top_4(30) -> 9 } Hurray, we answered YES(?,O(n^1))