Suppose we throw two dice. How many many combinations we have?

Most of the books (if not all), answer this question saying:

$$6\times 6= 36$$

In the probability books when asked about the chances to get a particular combination of the dice:

$$\frac{1}{6}\times \frac{1}{6}=\frac{1}{36}$$

The coins have the same the same reasoning.

Unless the dice are colored, the dice are equal. So in my view $(2,1)$ is the same as $(1,2)$.

Sometimes I have a troubles to interpret similar questions but with balls. Anyone could give me some tips to help me how to interpret these kind of questions when the author isn't enough explicit?