Answer:
h = 2.087 m
Explanation:
Given
mâ = 3 kg
vâ = 20 m/s
mâ = 2 kg
vâ = - 14 m/s
In a completely inelastic collision the colliding objects stick together after the collision and move together as a single object.
In the given problem, lets assume that the balls of putty are initially moving along the  y  axis, upward direction being the positive  y  direction. And the collision occurs at the origin of the coordinate system.
We can apply the equation
vs = (mâ*vâ + mâ*vâ) / (mâ + mâ) Â
â Â vs = (3 kg*20 m/s + 2 kg*(- 14 m/s)) / (3 kg + 2 kg) Â
â Â vs = 6.4 m/s (â)
To calculate the maximum height  h  attained by the combined system of two balls of putty after the the collision, we use the expression for linear motion under gravity:
vf² = vi² - 2*g*h
where
vf = 0 m/s Â
g = 9.81 m/s²
vi = vs = 6.4 m/s
finally we get h:
h = vi² / (2*g)
â  h = (6.4 m/s)² / (2*9.81 m/s²) = 2.087 m