A non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium stores therein a reinforcement learning program that uses a value function and causes a computer to execute a process comprising: estimating first coefficients of the value function represented in a quadratic form of inputs at times in the past than a present time and outputs at the present time and the times in the past, the first coefficients being estimated based on inputs at the times in the past, the outputs at the present time and the times in the past, and costs or rewards that corresponds to the inputs at the times in the past; and determining second coefficients that defines a control law, based on the value function that uses the estimated first coefficients and determining input values at times after estimation of the first coefficients.