как обычно, решение найдено почти сразу после опубликования вопроса
$(document).on('click', '.add_answer', function (e) {
let trs = $('#question_type_1 [class^=answer_number_]:last-child').attr('class');
trs = trs.replace('answer_number_','');
//console.log(trs);
trs *= 1; trs += 1;
$('#question_type_1 tbody').append(
'<tr class="answer_number_' + trs + '">'+
'<td>' + trs +'</td>'+
'<td>'+
' <input class="form-control" type="text" name="answer' + trs + '">'+
'</td>'+
'<td>'+
' <span class="badge badge-secondary">True</span>'+
' <span class="badge badge-danger active">False</span>'+
' <span class="badge badge-success add_answer pl-2 pr-2">+</span>'+
' <span class="badge badge-danger del_answer pl-2 pr-2">-</span>'+
'</td>'+
'</tr>'
);
return false;
});