A clothing store offers a 20% discount on all purchases. What is the discount in dollars (before tax) for an item originally costing $16.00 dollars?

0.2 * 16 = $3.20 discount

To calculate the discount in dollars, we need to determine 20% of the original price of the item. Here's how you can do it:

1. Convert the percentage to a decimal: 20% is equal to 0.20.
2. Multiply the original price of the item by the decimal value: $16.00 * 0.20 = $3.20.

Therefore, the discount in dollars (before tax) for an item originally costing $16.00 is $3.20.