Final answer:
A computer operation is an algorithmic task that executes a single numerical computation and stores the result. It can involve basic or complex calculations and is a fundamental concept in computer science and programming.
Step-by-step explanation:
A computer operation is an algorithmic operation that carries out a single numeric computation and stores the result. This encompasses any basic arithmetic operation such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division, as well as more complex computations like those based on exact numbers.
An algorithm, in this context, is essentially a set of instructions to carry out these calculations and achieve an exact output each time they are performed.
For instance, a computer might perform an operation that includes an exact number, which is a number from a defined relationship that has an infinite number of significant figures.
The operation could be part of a larger algorithm used in applications like Internet search engines or social media feeds, which are known to make extensive use of algorithms to sort and present data.