From the information given, the maximum that can be spent has to be enough to buy the outfit and cater for the sales tax as well and not exceed 120 dollars.
so we have the following logic:
outfit price + tax = 120 dollars
let us get the value of the tax first, so:
8% of 120 = ?
8/100 * 120 = ?
0.08 *120 =
The tax 9.60 dollars.
We now subtract this tax from the total amount to be spent, so:
120 - 9.60 = 110. 40
Therefore the highest pre-tax price to be paid without going over budget is has to be 110 dollars and 40 cents.