YES(?,O(n^1)) We are left with following problem, upon which TcT provides the certificate YES(?,O(n^1)). Strict Trs: { f(X) -> n__f(X) , f(f(a())) -> f(g(n__f(n__a()))) , a() -> n__a() , activate(X) -> X , activate(n__f(X)) -> f(activate(X)) , activate(n__a()) -> a() } Obligation: runtime complexity Answer: YES(?,O(n^1)) The problem is match-bounded by 3. The enriched problem is compatible with the following automaton. { f_0(2) -> 1 , f_1(3) -> 1 , f_1(3) -> 3 , f_2(4) -> 1 , f_2(4) -> 3 , a_0() -> 1 , a_1() -> 1 , a_1() -> 3 , g_0(2) -> 1 , g_0(2) -> 2 , g_0(2) -> 3 , g_2(3) -> 4 , n__f_0(2) -> 1 , n__f_0(2) -> 2 , n__f_0(2) -> 3 , n__f_1(2) -> 1 , n__f_2(3) -> 1 , n__f_2(3) -> 3 , n__f_3(4) -> 1 , n__f_3(4) -> 3 , n__a_0() -> 1 , n__a_0() -> 2 , n__a_0() -> 3 , n__a_1() -> 1 , n__a_2() -> 1 , n__a_2() -> 3 , activate_0(2) -> 1 , activate_1(2) -> 3 , 2 -> 1 , 2 -> 3 } Hurray, we answered YES(?,O(n^1))