Final answer:
The provided probabilities in the question are inconsistent with the initial statement that the tin contains only blue counters. To determine the number of red counters, additional information about the total number of counters and their color distribution would be needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is a probability problem where there is a misunderstanding regarding the counters in the tin. Initially, it is stated that there are only blue counters in the tin, which would make the probability of picking a blue counter P(blue) = 1. However, the given probabilities for picking a blue and white counter are P(blue) = 1/8 and P(white) = 3/5, respectively. These probabilities imply the presence of counters of different colors in the tin, but it is not possible to have both probabilities if there are only blue counters in the tin.
Therefore, the question appears to be either incorrectly stated or based on a hypothetical scenario that is not logically consistent. Since no other information regarding red counters is provided, we cannot determine the number of red counters in the tin based on the given probabilities. In a logical scenario, if we were actually dealing with a tin containing multiple colors of counters, we would need additional information regarding the total number of counters and the distribution of each color to calculate the probability of drawing a red counter, if any were present.