YES We show the termination of the TRS R: c(b(a(X))) -> a(a(b(b(c(c(X)))))) a(X) -> e() b(X) -> e() c(X) -> e() -- SCC decomposition. Consider the dependency pair problem (P, R), where P consists of p1: c#(b(a(X))) -> a#(a(b(b(c(c(X)))))) p2: c#(b(a(X))) -> a#(b(b(c(c(X))))) p3: c#(b(a(X))) -> b#(b(c(c(X)))) p4: c#(b(a(X))) -> b#(c(c(X))) p5: c#(b(a(X))) -> c#(c(X)) p6: c#(b(a(X))) -> c#(X) and R consists of: r1: c(b(a(X))) -> a(a(b(b(c(c(X)))))) r2: a(X) -> e() r3: b(X) -> e() r4: c(X) -> e() The estimated dependency graph contains the following SCCs: {p5, p6} -- Reduction pair. Consider the dependency pair problem (P, R), where P consists of p1: c#(b(a(X))) -> c#(c(X)) p2: c#(b(a(X))) -> c#(X) and R consists of: r1: c(b(a(X))) -> a(a(b(b(c(c(X)))))) r2: a(X) -> e() r3: b(X) -> e() r4: c(X) -> e() The set of usable rules consists of r1, r2, r3, r4 Take the reduction pair: weighted path order base order: matrix interpretations: carrier: N^2 order: lexicographic order interpretations: c#_A(x1) = x1 + (1,1) b_A(x1) = x1 a_A(x1) = x1 c_A(x1) = (0,0) e_A() = (0,0) precedence: b > c# = c > a = e partial status: pi(c#) = [1] pi(b) = [] pi(a) = [] pi(c) = [] pi(e) = [] The next rules are strictly ordered: p1 We remove them from the problem. -- SCC decomposition. Consider the dependency pair problem (P, R), where P consists of p1: c#(b(a(X))) -> c#(X) and R consists of: r1: c(b(a(X))) -> a(a(b(b(c(c(X)))))) r2: a(X) -> e() r3: b(X) -> e() r4: c(X) -> e() The estimated dependency graph contains the following SCCs: {p1} -- Reduction pair. Consider the dependency pair problem (P, R), where P consists of p1: c#(b(a(X))) -> c#(X) and R consists of: r1: c(b(a(X))) -> a(a(b(b(c(c(X)))))) r2: a(X) -> e() r3: b(X) -> e() r4: c(X) -> e() The set of usable rules consists of (no rules) Take the monotone reduction pair: weighted path order base order: matrix interpretations: carrier: N^2 order: lexicographic order interpretations: c#_A(x1) = x1 b_A(x1) = ((1,0),(1,1)) x1 + (1,1) a_A(x1) = ((1,0),(1,1)) x1 + (1,1) precedence: b = a > c# partial status: pi(c#) = [1] pi(b) = [1] pi(a) = [1] The next rules are strictly ordered: p1 We remove them from the problem. Then no dependency pair remains.