The criteria of extremality for classical variational integrals depending on several functions of one independent variable and their derivatives of arbitrary orders for constrained, isoperimetrical, degenerate, degenerate constrained, and so on, cases are investigated by means of adapted Poincare-Cartan forms. Without ambitions on a noble generalizing theory, the main part of the article consists of simple illustrative examples within a somewhat naive point of view in order to obtain results resembling the common Euler-Lagrange, Legendre, Jacobi, and Hilbert-Weierstrass conditions whenever possible and to discuss some modifications necessary in the degenerate case. The inverse and the realization problems are mentioned, too.
The Routh reduction of cyclic variables in the Lagrange function and the Jacobi-Maupertuis principle of constant energy systems are generalized. The article deals with one-dimensional variational integral subject to differential constraints, the Lagrange variational problem, that admits the Lie group of symmetries. Reduction to the orbit space is investigated in the absolute sense relieved of all accidental structures. In particular, the widest possible coordinate-free approach to the underdetermined systems of ordinary differential equations, Poincaré-Cartan forms, variations and extremals is involved for the preparation of the main task. The self-contained exposition differs from the common actual theories and rests only on the most fundamental tools of classical mathematical analysis, however, they are applied in infinite-dimensional spaces. The article may be of a certain interest for nonspecialists since all concepts of the calculus of variations undergo a deep reconstruction.