A unified proof of the Bridges and de Witte theorems and of the fundamental theorem of finite linear spaces (Q1864680)

A classical result due to \textit{N. G. de Bruijn} and \textit{P. Erdős} [Indag. Math. 10, 421-423 (1948)] states that in a finite linear space the number of lines is greater than or equal to the number of points. Finite linear spaces with \(v\) points and \(v+1\) lines were classified by \textit{W. G. Bridges} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 13, 116-126 (1972; Zbl 0264.05015)], and finite linear spaces with \(v\) points and \(v+2\) lines were classified by \textit{P. de Witte} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 288, 66-73 (1976; Zbl 0333.50009)]. Using elementary counting arguments, the author proposes a unified and short proof of the classical results mentioned above.