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Let us call a simple undirected graph $G$ non-traceable if there is no Hamiltonian path in $G$.

Are there connected non-traceable graphs $G, H$ such that the Cartesian product $G{\scriptsize\square} H$ has a Hamiltonian path?

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  • $\begingroup$ @bof thank you for providing the terminology! $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 8, 2017 at 11:58
  • $\begingroup$ Very nice @bof - if it checks out, can you put it in an answer? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 8, 2017 at 13:47

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Yes, this is possible and one of the smallest counterexamples is on 6 vertices.

Let $G$ be the graph with edges

[(0, 1), (0, 2), (0, 'A'), (1, 2), (1, 'B'), (2, 'C')]

This is essentially $K_3$ with 3 new vertices adjacent to each of the vertices of the $K_3$. The cartesian square $G\square G$ has hamiltonian path and even hamiltonian cycle.

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