diff --git a/lib/core/config.js b/lib/core/config.js
index d01420c28..dc00f0e50 100644
--- a/lib/core/config.js
+++ b/lib/core/config.js
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ function factory (type, config, load, typed, math) {
    *                            {number} precision
    *                              The number of significant digits for BigNumbers.
    *                              Not applicable for Numbers.
+   *                            {string} parenthesis
+   *                              How to display parentheses in LaTeX and String
+   *                              output.
    * @return {Object} Returns the current configuration
    */
   return function _config(options) {
diff --git a/lib/core/core.js b/lib/core/core.js
index a4e928823..a571af525 100644
--- a/lib/core/core.js
+++ b/lib/core/core.js
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ var configFactory = require('./config');
  *                            {number} precision
  *                              The number of significant digits for BigNumbers.
  *                              Not applicable for Numbers.
+ *                            {string} parenthesis
+ *                              How to display parentheses in LaTeX and String
+ *                              output.
  * @returns {Object} Returns a bare-bone math.js instance containing
  *                   functions:
  *                   - `import` to add new functions
@@ -57,7 +60,11 @@ exports.create = function create (options) {
 
     // minimum relative difference between two compared values,
     // used by all comparison functions
-    epsilon: 1e-14
+    epsilon: 1e-14,
+
+    // which type of parenthesis to use for toString and toTex
+    // one of 'keep', 'auto', and 'all'
+    parenthesis: 'keep'
   };
 
   if (options) {
diff --git a/test/index.test.js b/test/index.test.js
index c7df48e56..b264280f0 100644
--- a/test/index.test.js
+++ b/test/index.test.js
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ describe('factory', function() {
       matrix: 'matrix',
       number: 'number',
       precision: 64,
-      epsilon: 1e-14
+      epsilon: 1e-14,
+      parenthesis: 'keep'
     });
   });
 
@@ -25,7 +26,8 @@ describe('factory', function() {
       matrix: 'array',
       number: 'bignumber',
       precision: 64,
-      epsilon: 1e-14
+      epsilon: 1e-14,
+      parenthesis: 'keep'
     });
   });
 
@@ -56,21 +58,24 @@ describe('factory', function() {
       matrix: 'matrix',
       number: 'number',
       precision: 64,
-      epsilon: 1e-14
+      epsilon: 1e-14,
+      parenthesis: 'keep'
     });
 
     math1.config({
       matrix: 'array',
       number: 'bignumber',
       precision: 32,
-      epsilon: 1e-7
+      epsilon: 1e-7,
+      parenthesis: 'auto'
     });
 
     assert.deepEqual(math1.config(), {
       matrix: 'array',
       number: 'bignumber',
       precision: 32,
-      epsilon: 1e-7
+      epsilon: 1e-7,
+      parenthesis: 'auto'
     });
 
     // restore the original config
@@ -91,4 +96,4 @@ describe('factory', function() {
     Object.create = create;
   });
 
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+});