Consider a binary operation $\ast$ on $N$ defined as $a \ast b = a^3 + b^3$. Choose the correct answer:

Question

(A) * is both associative and commutative $\qquad$ (B) * is commutative but not associative $\qquad$ (C) * is associative but not commutative $\qquad$ (D) * is neither commutative nor associative $\qquad$