UR friend is rite, not a wierd assumptn.....
its coz x ranges frm 10 to 19.....
u take the lowest value of x = 10
1/x^8 = 1/10^8
nice way 2 solve MCQs..... helpful technique
EVEN IF U DONT TAKE THE ASSUMPTION IT WORKS WELL....
\int_{10}^{19}{x^{-8}} = x^-7/-7 on the limits 10 n 19
now solv further, BUT UR METH IS BETTER