Google maps request returning “Cannot set property 'position' of undefined”-Collection of common programming errors

Am trying to display a location on a map using goolge maps, with the function below

function show_map(options) {
            var mapOptions = {
                center: new google.maps.LatLng(options.lat, options.lng),
                zoom: 12,
                mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP
            };

              var map = new google.maps.Map($("#map-canvas"),mapOptions);
        }

and i get this error “Cannot set property ‘position’ of undefined”. What might the problem be?

Originally posted 2013-11-09 23:36:56.