Explanation:
Let's set the x-axis to be parallel to the and positive up the plane. Likewise, the y-axis will be positive upwards and perpendicular to the plane. As the problem stated, we are going to assume that m1 will move downwards so its acceleration is negative while m2 moves up so its acceleration is positive. There are two weight components pointing down the plane, [tex]m_1g \sin \theta[/tex] and [tex]m_2g \sin \theta[/tex] and two others pointing up the plane, the two tensions T along the strings. There is a normal force N pointing up from the plane and two pointing down, [tex]m_1g \sin \theta[/tex] and [tex]m_2g \sin \theta[/tex]. Now let's apply Newton's 2nd law to this problem:
x-axis:
[tex]m1:\:\:\:\displaystyle \sum_i F_i = T - m_1g \sin \theta = - m_1a\:\:\:\:(1)[/tex]
[tex]m2:\:\:\:\displaystyle \sum_i F_i = T - m_2g \sin \theta = m_2a\:\:\:\:(2)[/tex]
y-axis:
[tex]\:\:\:\displaystyle \sum_i F_i = N - m_1g \cos \theta - m_2g \cos \theta = 0[/tex]
Use Eqn 1 to solve for T,
[tex]T = m_1(g \sin \theta - a)[/tex]
Substitute this expression for T into Eqn 2,
[tex]m_1g \sin \theta - m_1a - m_2g \sin \theta = m_2a[/tex]
Collecting all similar terms, we get
[tex](m_1 + m_2)a = (m_1 - m_2)g \sin \theta[/tex]
or
[tex]a = \left(\dfrac{m_1 - m_2}{m_1 + m_2} \right)g \sin \theta[/tex]
