Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 August 2014
We exhibit a practical algorithm for solving the constructive membership problem for discrete free subgroups of rank $2$ in $\mathrm{PSL}_2(\mathbb{R})$ or $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{R})$. This algorithm, together with methods for checking whether a two-generator subgroup of $\mathrm{PSL}_2(\mathbb{R})$ or $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{R})$ is discrete and free, have been implemented in Magma for groups defined over real algebraic number fields.