I need some clarification regarding functions. If $f(x) = 3 + 5$ and $() = 4^2 − 2$, find:

$(g(3))$
$g(3)$

Would you get the same answer for one and two? I think I read or heard somewhere that it doesn't matter whether you put a function within brackets or not.
I want to be absolutely sure because I'm not exactly a math genius.
It's a little ambiguous to write $fg(3)$, because it could either mean $$(f\circ g)(3) = f(g(3))$$ or it could be a sloppy way of writing $$(fg)(3)= f(3)\cdot g(3),$$ and these two things are not generally the same:
$$
(fg)(3) = f(g(3)) = f(30) = 95$$
whereas
$$f(3)\cdot g(3) = 14\cdot 30 = 420$$
If this is given in an assignment it's probably best to ask your instructor what they mean.  If you are looking for a shorter way of writing $f(g(3))$ you should go with $(f\circ g)(3)$
Yes, those are exactly the same.