In thermodynamics, every equilibrium state of a system is represented by specific values of macroscopic variables known as state variables. For gases, these include pressure (P), volume (V), temperature (T), and mass (m), along with composition when dealing with mixtures. Understanding these variables is crucial as they are not always independent of one another; the interdependence is described through equations of state, like the ideal gas law given by PV = µRT. This law indicates that for a fixed amount of gas, any two of the variables P, V, or T can be chosen as independent variables. Thermodynamic state variables can be classified as extensive or intensive, which has implications for how they behave when a system is divided. Thus, understanding how these properties relate helps in analyzing thermodynamic processes and the behavior of gases and other materials under various conditions.