A simple new proof of the fundamental theorem for finite linear spaces (Q480398)

In this paper, the authors give a particularly simple proof of the fundamental theorem of finite linear spaces known as De Bruijn-Erdős theorem: In a finite linear space \((S,L)\) with \(v\) points and \(b\) lines it is \(b \geq v\). Equality holds if and only if \((S,L)\) is either a projective plane or a near pencil.