Final answer:
In computer operations, a CPU adds two variables using its arithmetic logic unit and stores the result in a general-purpose register before writing it back to memory. This process inside the CPU is comparable to the commutative property in math, where the order of addition does not affect the result.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a CPU performs the addition of two variables, the process typically involves using general-purpose registers within the processor. These registers are used to hold temporary data such as the operands (the numbers to be added) and the result of operations.
In the case of an addition operation, the CPU will take the two values that need to be added, which might be stored in memory or already present in registers, and perform the addition using its arithmetic logic unit (ALU). The resulting sum is then stored back into a general-purpose register. Only after this step is the result written back to the computer's memory, where it can be assigned to a variable.
This is similar to the commutative property in mathematics, where numbers can be added in any order and the result will be the same. For example, adding 2 + 3 gives the same result as 3 + 2. The CPU handles these operations without regard to the order of the operands; it simply follows instructions as per the program's commands.