YES(?,O(n^1)) We are left with following problem, upon which TcT provides the certificate YES(?,O(n^1)). Strict Trs: { rec[take_l_0][2](0()) -> Nil() , rec[take_l_0][2](S(x6)) -> Cons(rec[take_l_0][2](x6)) , main(x3) -> rec[take_l_0][2](x3) } Obligation: innermost runtime complexity Answer: YES(?,O(n^1)) The input was oriented with the instance of 'Small Polynomial Path Order (PS,1-bounded)' as induced by the safe mapping safe(0) = {}, safe(rec[take_l_0][2]) = {}, safe(Nil) = {}, safe(S) = {1}, safe(Cons) = {1}, safe(main) = {} and precedence main > rec[take_l_0][2] . Following symbols are considered recursive: {rec[take_l_0][2]} The recursion depth is 1. For your convenience, here are the satisfied ordering constraints: rec[take_l_0][2](0();) > Nil() rec[take_l_0][2](S(; x6);) > Cons(; rec[take_l_0][2](x6;)) main(x3;) > rec[take_l_0][2](x3;) Hurray, we answered YES(?,O(n^1))