State Function

[Ashley Kenney 1E]

Why is change in internal energy a state function when it is comprised of things that are not state functions?

[Ashe Chen 2C]

The change in internal energy during a process depends only upon the initial state and final state while work and heat depends on upon the path followed. Thus, internal energy is a state function and work and heat are not.

[Michael Torres 4I]

The book mentions that a state function does not need to be composed of state functions itself to be a state function. Therefore, the fact that internal energy is composed of work and heat, neither of which are state functions, does not stop internal energy from being a state function. Thus, the change in internal energy of a system is only dependent upon its initial and final states.