Let and let act on its one-dimensional subspaces. First identify the kernel of a group homomorphism in . A matrix fixing every coordinate line is diagonal, and fixing every line forces all diagonal entries equal. Thus the projective kernel of a group homomorphism is . These scalars are central. Conversely a central matrix commutes with all : comparing entries in shows all off-diagonal entries of vanish and all diagonal entries agree. Therefore the kernel of a group homomorphism is exactly . This proves scalar kernel of the projective linear action and faithfulness of the induced -action.
The action is doubly transitive. Given two ordered pairs of distinct lines, choose two independent representatives of each pair and extend them to bases. A linear map taking the first basis to the second sends the desired lines correctly. If its determinant is , postcompose with a diagonal map in the target basis that scales its first basis vector by and fixes all the others. It preserves the two target lines and corrects the determinant. Thus an element of sends either ordered pair to the other. Double transitivity implies primitivity: a block containing two distinct points must contain every point by the transitive point-stabilizer action.
For , consider
Products add the functionals, so is abelian. If fixes , write . Then , and the new functional still vanishes on . Thus the image of in is normal in the point stabilizer. Its conjugates contain all elementary transvections: changing the center line to gives every map with , including . Part (b) then shows that those conjugates generate .
It remains to prove perfectness, not assume it. Use . For , distinct give
Every generator is therefore a group commutator, so . For and , choose with , possible because a quadratic polynomial has at most two roots. With ,
Both coefficients are nonzero, so every upper and lower elementary transvection is again a group commutator. Part (b) proves perfectness in this case as well. Quotients of perfect groups are perfect, hence in exactly the stated range.
Apply part (a) to the faithful primitive -action and its abelian normal point-stabilizer subgroup . Every nontrivial normal subgroup contains , so it is the whole group. A transvection is not scalar, showing . We have proved
The proof works for infinite fields too and uses no finite-order count. The excluded two-dimensional fields give the familiar soluble exceptions and .