We know what the mass of an electron is By direct experimental measurements And we know that this is the answer That our theory ought to give us For the mass of an electron positive cloud
But the problems , oh the problems They relate in a way in which an electron in quantum theory Is not the naked particle of classical theory , no It’s surrounded by a cloud of virtual particals This cloud of particals must affect the mass of the electron It is quiet possible to set up the quantum equasions Corresponding to the electron positive cloud
But whenever these equesions are solved mathematically They give an infinitely large number of answers So the theorists remove the infinities from the equesions In effect dividing one infinity by another Mathematically if you divide infinity by infinity You can get any answer at all Or so they say
As long as you avoid asking what it means There’s no problem Ask why the world should be like this however An even fine man has to reply : We have no idea