3 point charges in the x direction

[Trista]

Here is the problem:
Three point charges are aligned along the x-axis as shown below. Find the electric field at the position x = +2.0m, y=0.
........y
........|
--------|<--.50m --->|<--------------.80m-------->|
--------0------------0-----------------------------0--------- X
...-4.0nC....|5.0nC........3.0nC
........|

So, I figured that I have to add up the E along the x-axis and that should give me my answer. But, I'm not sure what to do with the numbers when they are already an Electrical Field... -4.nC isn't the charge, so, don't I need to find the q (or charge) first? then put it in the form kq/r^2??

The only way I can come up with the answer is wrong... total E = 4,
EA = 4 nC X 2m = 8 nC/m. 3 Charges times 8 nC/m = 24 nC... But that was simply a coincidence, I'm sure. 24 nC is the right answer, just need help getting there.

Thank you in advance for your help and patience.

 

[eep]

Are you sure? Those are units of charge, not of the electric field.

 

[Galileo]

Why isn't -4.0 nC a charge? Isn't nC a nano-Coulomb? So it has units charge. The electric field has units N/C or V/m. So how can 24 nC be the right answer when it has the wrong units?

 

[Trista]

Unfortunately, the book says that 24nC is the answer. Its been wrong before, but not very often.

and about the nC, I was thinking it was Newton per Couloumb. Didn't even consider a nano couloumb... I will run with that. Thankyou

 

[eep]

The units are definitely wrong if that's supposed to be an electric field...