An apparatus for creating a simplified false-path description on a false path among paths in a target circuit extracts, from descriptions on the paths, a target path description on a target path. The apparatus judges whether the target path is a false path based on the target path description. The apparatus identifies, when it is judged that the target path is a false path, a sufficient set of elements from elements included in the target path. The settings for causing every element in the sufficient set to transmit a signal conflict. The apparatus creates the simplified false-path description on the false path by deleting, from the target path description, a description on elements that are not included in the sufficient set.