\(A=\left(x^2-2xy+y^2\right)-2\left(x-y\right)+1+2y^2-2y+1996\\ A=\left[\left(x-y\right)^2-2\left(x-y\right)+1\right]+2\left(y^2-y+\dfrac{1}{4}\right)+\dfrac{3991}{2}\\ A=\left(x-y-1\right)^2+2\left(y-\dfrac{1}{2}\right)^2+\dfrac{3991}{2}\ge\dfrac{3991}{2}\\ A_{min}=\dfrac{3991}{2}\Leftrightarrow\left\{{}\begin{matrix}x=y+1=\dfrac{3}{2}\\y=\dfrac{1}{2}\end{matrix}\right.\)

