The right circular cone in the figure below is intersected halfway between point (A) and point (B) by a plane parallel to the base of the cone. The height of the cone is 12 centimeters (cm) and the radius of the base is 5 centimeters.
A smaller cone is created by the intersection of the cone and the plane. Which is closest to the area of the base of the smaller cone?
A. 7.9 square centimeters
B. 15.7 square centimeters
C. 19.6 square centimeters
D. 39.3 square centimeters