pdf vs cdf -random variables-

Question

The following problem is what I am working on.

$F(x)=\frac{1}{1+e^{-x}}$ is the cumulative density function defined for all real numbers. Find the probability density function.

My understanding is that $\int_{-\infty}^{x} f(t)dt=F(x)$. So I understand that taking the derivative with respect to $x$ on both sides is what I would like to do, but what do we do with the $-\infty$ ? The book that I am working on explains it as just take the derivative of $F(x)$, but as a math instructor I am hesitant to blindly follow that.

Can someone help ?

Answer 1

Differentiating $\int_{-\infty}^x f(t) dt$ and $\int_{a}^x f(t)dt$ for any real $a$ will give you the same function $f(t),$ since these two functions differ by a constant value $\int_{-\infty}^a f(t)dt$ only. That $d/dx(\int_a^x f(t)dt)= f(x)$ is the content of the fundamental theorem of calculus.

Answer 2

We have that: $$ \dfrac{\partial }{\partial x} \int^{b(x)}_{a(x)} f(z)dz= b^\prime(x)\cdot f(x)-a^\prime(x)\cdot f(x).$$ In your example, $b(x)=x$ so $b^\prime(x)=1$ and $a(x)=-\infty$ is a constant so $a^\prime(x)=0$ then you get $$f(x)=F^\prime(x).$$