To round the number 7.61 to the nearest tenth, we need to look at the digit in the hundredths place, which is the second digit after the decimal point. In the number 7.61, the tenths place is 6 and the hundredths place is 1.
The rule for rounding is simple: if the digit in the hundredths place is 5 or greater, we round up the tenths place by one. If it is less than 5, we leave the tenths place unchanged. Since the digit in the hundredths place (1) is less than 5, we do not round up.
Therefore, 7.61 rounded to the nearest tenth is 7.6.