The P in PEMDAS means to solve everything within parentheses first
and without a(b+c)=(ab+ac), now solve (ab+ac)
there is no “distribution” step or rule
It's a LAW of Maths actually, The Distributive Law.
that says multiplying without a visible operator
It's not "Multiplying", it's Distributing, a(b+c)=(ab+ac)
So yes, 36 is valid here
No it isn't. To get 36 you have disobeyed The Distributive Law, thus it is a wrong answer
It’s mostly because
people like you try to gaslight others that there's no such thing as The Distributive Law