YES(?,O(n^2)) We are left with following problem, upon which TcT provides the certificate YES(?,O(n^2)). Strict Trs: { and(tt(), X) -> X , plus(N, 0()) -> N , plus(N, s(M)) -> s(plus(N, M)) , x(N, 0()) -> 0() , x(N, s(M)) -> plus(x(N, M), N) } Obligation: innermost runtime complexity Answer: YES(?,O(n^2)) The input was oriented with the instance of 'Small Polynomial Path Order (PS)' as induced by the safe mapping safe(and) = {}, safe(tt) = {}, safe(plus) = {1}, safe(0) = {}, safe(s) = {1}, safe(x) = {} and precedence and > plus, x > plus, and ~ x . Following symbols are considered recursive: {plus, x} The recursion depth is 2. For your convenience, here are the satisfied ordering constraints: and(tt(), X;) > X plus(0(); N) > N plus(s(; M); N) > s(; plus(M; N)) x(N, 0();) > 0() x(N, s(; M);) > plus(N; x(N, M;)) Hurray, we answered YES(?,O(n^2))